Research and Evaluation Services

This 2024-2025 year-in-review report examines the continued impact of the Improving Chronic Absence Network (ICAN) on participating schools and the extent to which former ICAN participants sustain and scale interventions and practices learned during ICAN. This report explores the opportunities for and barriers preventing sustainability and scale as well as the relationship between ICAN participation and family-school partnership strength during the 2024-2025 school year. 

The Improving Chronic Absence Network (ICAN) Impact Report examines whether interventions including nudge letters and relationship-building strategies improved chronic absenteeism rates in partner districts. We determined the impact of ICAN interventions by comparing a district’s rates of chronic absenteeism year over year.

Discover the comprehensive analysis shaping college and career readiness in San Diego County. This report dives into trends in college enrollment, retention, and degree completion, offering data-driven insights to guide students toward best-fit institutions. Highlighting disparities in educational outcomes, it explores strategies for increasing retention and closing equity gaps. With workforce demands evolving - nearly 72% of U.S. jobs requiring postsecondary education by 2031 - this resource is a must-read for educators, policymakers, and families. Learn how to leverage data, align educational goals with workforce needs, and support students in achieving their full potential.

The annual report of the National Clearinghouse data is designed to increase our understanding and decisions about college access and completion across San Diego County. The StudentTracker data provides our community with a reasonably accurate representation of the number and percentage of students who enroll, persist, and complete college annually. The SDCOE partnership with local high school districts to capture college-going data guide our efforts to support more students in attending and completing a four-year degree so they and our region can thrive.

This Community Schools Regional Technical Assistance Center (R-TAC) report evaluates the Southern Coast R-TAC's work across San Diego, Orange, and Imperial counties. The report examines R-TAC's strategies to support community schools, levels of participation, and the impact of assistance, offering findings and recommendations as SC R-TAC continues to support community school implementation. 

This 2024-2025 report explores the impact of School in the Park, an experiential learning program serving students in City Heights. It covers effects on student confidence, persistence, engagement, learner identity, and relationships, while also examining influences on family engagement and teachers' lessons. The report offers findings and recommendations intended to inform and guide the program's continued evolution. 

The report analyzes 9th grade "on-track" status as a key predictor of high school graduation and college outcomes in San Diego County. It highlights racial disparities, especially for Black and Hispanic students, and emphasizes early interventions, equitable course access, and data-informed strategies to improve postsecondary success and educational equity. 

Part of the San Diego Research for Action series, this research brief highlights promising practices in literacy instruction and professional development. Drawing on evaluation findings from local and statewide initiatives, it offers practical insights to support educators, leaders, and partners working to strengthen literacy outcomes across California. 

Project CLEAR is a statewide effort dedicated to accelerating literacy learning in California's schools. By supporting teachers development and utilizing evidence-based interventions, the project opens educational opportunities for all learners, including English learners and students with disabilities, helping foster lasting growth and achievement. 

The 2024 Project ARISE Annual Report illustrates the efforts of the Contra Costa, Glenn, and San Diego County Offices of Education to enhance literacy outcomes via the Reading Instruction and Intervention grant program. Through collaborations with various educational and technical partners, this initiative focuses on evidence-based literacy instruction and intensive literacy interventions, particularly for English learners, students with disabilities, and those with dyslexia. The report details the three-phase evaluation approach and shares findings and recommendations aimed at refining and expanding the program’s impact across California schools.

The 2024 Uplift Literacy initiative, spanning San Diego, Orange, and Imperial counties, is dedicated to enhancing literacy outcomes for the diverse English learner and American Indian student populations of Region 9. Through strategic partnerships, this project focuses on developing educator capabilities in culturally responsive pedagogy and strengthening family and community engagement. Our comprehensive approach leverages asset-based instructional strategies, aiming to foster educational equity and excellence. For detailed insights into our impact and ongoing efforts, explore the full report.

The Every Child Reads initiative built literacy capacity across 22 schools in California's Oakley and Oceanside districts through evidence-based practices, professional development, and family engagement. While 41% of student met ELA standards - short of the 55% goal - local assessments showed promising within-year growth, particularly in Oceanside, demonstrating the foundation for sustained literacy improvement. 

Every Child Reads has connected over 455 teachers and over 14,937 students’ literacy data, and we developed a system for monitoring progress in important literacy skills. Our work advances literacy skills for students from transitional kindergarten through 5th grade.

The 2024 DEEP Formative Report on the San Diego Unified School District's Lincoln Cluster Literacy Program evaluates Year 1 of implementing a comprehensive literacy program. Highlighting the urgent need for literacy reform post-COVID-19, the report underlines a district-wide shift towards evidence-based practices, notably the Science of Reading. The report discusses the program's implementation across various schools, showing notable strides in professional development and instructional quality, especially in DEEP schools, with enhanced support for English learners and low-income students. It emphasizes consistent improvement in literacy outcomes, though it notes challenges in curriculum consistency and resource availability. Recommendations focus on strengthening teacher support and leveraging data for educational improvement.

2024 DEEP Formative Report Brief

2024 DEEP Formative Report Insights

The purpose of this evaluation is to report on the outcomes of the Project M3: Mathematics, Mindset, and Mastery Department of Defense grant in Coronado. The overarching goal of the program is to improve the mathematics achievement of military students along with teachers' capacities in implementing new state standards using data-driven small group instruction and focused professional development.

Choosing which college to attend is one of many tough decisions students face on their path to attaining a college degree. We designed this report for school and district leaders to provide information about college readiness, college enrollment, persistence, and completion. This report also includes critical information about college retention rates, a key metric students should use in the enrollment process to ensure they have the greatest chance of attaining a college degree.

Choosing the Right College Brief

Choosing the Right College Presentation

The annual report of the National Clearinghouse data is designed to increase our understanding and decisions about college access and completion across San Diego County. The StudentTracker data provides our community with a reasonably accurate representation of the number and percentage of students who enroll, persist, and complete college annually. The SDCOE partnership with local high school districts to capture college-going data guide our efforts to support more students in attending and completing a four-year degree so they and our region can thrive.

The 2025 Project ARISE Annual Report illustrates the efforts of the Contra Costa, Glenn, and San Diego County Offices of Education to enhance literacy outcomes via the California Department of Education's Reading Instruction and Intervention grant program. Through collaborations with various educational and technical partners, this initiative focuses on evidence-based literacy instruction and intensive literacy interventions, particularly for English learners, students with disabilities, and those with dyslexia. The report details the three-phase evaluation approach and shared findings and recommendations aimed at sustaining the program's impact across California schools. 

The 2024 Project ARISE Annual Report illustrates the efforts of the Contra Costa, Glenn, and San Diego County Offices of Education to enhance literacy outcomes via the Reading Instruction and Intervention grant program. Through collaborations with various educational and technical partners, this initiative focuses on evidence-based literacy instruction and intensive literacy interventions, particularly for English learners, students with disabilities, and those with dyslexia. The report details the three-phase evaluation approach and shares findings and recommendations aimed at refining and expanding the program’s impact across California schools.

This report evaluates the DEEP literacy model in San Diego's Lincoln cluster. It highlights stronger professional development, coaching, and instructional alignment in DEEP schools. While overall test score gains were not statistically significant, the model shows promise for improving instruction and equity, especially for English learners and underserved communities. 

DEEP Formative Report Brief

The 2024 DEEP Formative Report on the San Diego Unified School District's Lincoln Cluster Literacy Program evaluates Year 1 of implementing a comprehensive literacy program. Highlighting the urgent need for literacy reform post-COVID-19, the report underlines a district-wide shift towards evidence-based practices, notably the Science of Reading. The report discusses the program's implementation across various schools, showing notable strides in professional development and instructional quality, especially in DEEP schools, with enhanced support for English learners and low-income students. It emphasizes consistent improvement in literacy outcomes, though it notes challenges in curriculum consistency and resource availability. Recommendations focus on strengthening teacher support and leveraging data for educational improvement.

2024 DEEP Formative Report Brief

2024 DEEP Formative Report Insights

The South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Equity, Disproportionality, and Design (ED&D) team is committed to helping SELPAs, local educational agencies, schools, and educators across the state build an equitable special education experience for all students. This report investigates the influence of ED&D’s research-based techniques and equity-driven practices to reduce disproportionality in California.