Equity

Educational equity means students have access, opportunities, and supports to thrive in school, achieve a meaningful diploma, and lead a choice-filled life. This requires a systemic approach that flexibly responds to the needs of students, when they need it, and how they need it. Social or cultural factors should not predict whether or not students are prepared for college and career.

To deliver on the promise of educational equity for all students, the San Diego County Board of Education is committed to providing educational opportunities and support to district and school leaders, teachers and other stakeholders so that all students, including our historically underserved students, are served well and are successful.

The County Office supports this effort by providing equity-focused services to schools and districts, charter organizations, independent, and Juvenile Court and Community Schools throughout San Diego County. Learn more with the SDCOE Equity Blueprint for Action (PDF).

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Hallway Art designed by children — Ensuring all students have access, opportunities, and supports to thrive in school

Email List

Want to stay up-to-date with San Diego County Office of Education's Equity Department? Connect through our Equity Department contacts list.

Equity Blueprint for action

Focuses on improving educational outcomes for three student groups: African American, American Indian, and Latinx.

Visit Equity Blueprint Website

Equity Conference

The Equity Conference is an opportunity to grow and learn as we work to make our campuses safe spaces for all students, staff members, and families, where they feel honored and valued. Save the date for the 2024 Equity Conference on Jan. 18 and 19.

Visit Conference Website

San Diego County Office of Education is available to support districts and charter schools in San Diego County (TK-14) in improving their equity efforts. If you would like to request support for professional learning and building capacity with members of your organization or community, please complete this form.

Equity in Education Videos

Check out our Equity in Education video playlist to find videos from our conferences, student panels, and other events.

More to Explore

Black Excellence Series

Educator Resource Guides

The San Diego County Office of Education creates and curates timely resource guides. You can find the most up-to-date guides on the News webpage or in the Resource Guide Library.

Guide to Observing Hispanic Heritage Month

Learn more about the history of this recognition day, the importance of terminology, and find resources for expanding your knowledge and understanding.

Teach 9/11 with Compassion

San Diego County is home to a diverse community that includes first responders and victims who may have directly experienced the terror attacks on 9/11 and their aftermath.

Educators Guide to Teach Indigenous Peoples' History

Resources to support educators in providing access to culturally-relevant and respectful learning experiences in the classroom. Utilize these resources in the continuous journey to decolonize classrooms by creating spaces that are inclusive, respectful, and honor Indigenous Peoples.

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Guide to Observing Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) in May is a time we honor and celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of Jewish Americans. SDCOE gathered resources and tools to support educators and families in observing this recognition.

Resources for Educators, Families to Discuss Mass Shootings in the Community

When there are horrific mass shootings in our country, our young people need a safe space to share their thoughts, worries, or fears.

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Guide to Observing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in classrooms and schools can help students and families feel seen, heard, and valued –– and it creates space for all students to learn about the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to our country’s prosperity and spirit.

Equity Library

California Regional Ethnic Studies Collaborative (Project CRESC)

In January 2023, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) was awarded a two-year contract from the California Department of Education (CDE) to lead professional learning in ethnic studies for the state. SDCOE, in partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education and with the support of county office regional leads that encompass the entire state, will lead the California Regional Ethnic Studies Collaborative (CRESC) project. This project responds to the urgent need to design asset-based systems intentionally aligned to research and best practices to support high-quality ethnic studies implementation.

The overarching goal of Project CRESC is to improve academic outcomes for all students through building a statewide, regional, and local system of support for ethnic studies implementation in schools. The model is grounded in a distributive leadership approach — because we believe that it takes all of us to do this work. The research on ethnic studies is clear: these courses contribute to the healthy identity formation of young people, and our youth have repeatedly requested to see themselves represented positively and accurately. Project goals include (1) develop and deliver robust and effective professional learning opportunities to build the capacity (awareness, knowledge, and skills) of educators to support and expand ethnic studies courses; and (2) curate, develop, and expand ethnic studies resources shared on an online ethnic studies hub.

If you are interested in participating in this exciting project, please attend our upcoming statewide Project CRESC webinars on April 13, May 11, and June 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. Likewise, if you would like to join our local county initiatives, please join our Ethnic Studies Collaborative.

Quarter 1 Public Report (January 2023 to March 2023)
Quarter 2 Public Report (April 2023 to June 2023)
Year 1 Public Report (January 2023 to June 2023)

RISE Urban Principal Preparation (RISE UPP)

The RISE Urban Principal Preparation (RISE UPP) program is a free learning opportunity that aims to create a pipeline for principals and teacher-leaders who are committed to advancing equity in San Diego County’s urban schools. It's made possible through a partnership between San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), RISE San Diego, and Teach for America (TFA).

RISE UPP participants are:

Current principals (fewer than five years of experience)
Future principals (those already enrolled in an administrative credential program and those who will soon enroll)
Teacher-leaders who are interested in school leadership

The program provides a concentrated focus on cultivating an equity mindset for transforming San Diego’s urban schools into places of excellence and innovation. RISE UPP complements administrative credential programs.

Learn more and apply

Instructional Design for Equity/Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE)

Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity

The Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE) initiative, a national academic excellence model for professional development, supports TK-12 schools and districts to implement an equity-centered, culturally and linguistically responsive writing approach in English and Spanish across instructional contexts. Aligned to the writing standards in the California Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Science, Science, and Technical Subjects, and language development proficiency levels, WRITE prepares students for college, career, and civic participation. Through partnerships with schools, districts, and county offices, WRITE develops a network of leaders with a shared understanding of quality integrated literacy instruction.

Through partnerships with schools, districts, and county offices, WRITE develops a network of leaders with a shared understanding of quality integrated literacy instruction. Join TK-12 teacher leaders across the state in a four-module online course to focus on equity-centered, research-based writing instruction.

Read the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Research Study

Instructional Design for Equity: Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE)

The Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE) courses introduce TK-12 educators to culturally and linguistically responsive instructional practices, with an emphasis on integrated literacy and equity-centered design. During the four synchronous two-hour meetings and applied projects, teacher leaders build their capacity to support site and district implementation through dynamic learning. The asynchronous course component (approximately one hour per week) includes readings, relevant online discussions, and applied projects. The courses are aligned to the Common Core State Writing standards and support teachers to design for equity in the following content areas: English language arts/English language development (ELA/ELD), Spanish language arts/Spanish language development (SLA/SLD), Spanish/Spanish for Spanish speakers, history/social science, science, and career technical education. Professional learning credit available.

main contacts

Julie Goldman, Ed.D.
Director, Equity Curriculum and Instruction
Linda Vista Campus
jgoldman@sdcoe.net
858-298-2012

Maria Cordero
Executive Leadership Coach
Multilingual Education and Global Achievement (MEGA)
Linda Vista Campus
mariacordero@sdcoe.net
858-295-8985

Stephanie Juarez
Administrative Assistant 1
Learning and Leadership
Linda Vista Campus
stephanie.juarez@sdoce.net
858-298-2018

Youth Scholar Panel Videos

Professional Development

Ethnic Studies Collaborative for TK-12 Teachers

Monthly Ethnic Studies Collaborative meetings support classroom teachers to design and collaborate on social justice K-12 curriculum. Join us on the following dates from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Sept. 14, Oct. 19, Nov. 30, Feb. 8, and May 9.

Ethnic Studies 101 for Site and District Leaders

These virtual sessions will provide an overview of ethnic studies and a process to implement an ethnic studies course. Site and district leaders will learn about ethnic studies requirements and guidelines to develop a community-responsive ethnic studies curriculum. Join us for the following three sessions from 8 a.m. to noon:

Session 1 - Oct. 24 or Nov. 2
Session 2 - Dec. 14
Session 3 - Feb. 8

Project CRESC Designing for Ethnic Studies Professional Learning Series

Participants will:

Build capacity to implement the ethnic studies graduation requirement by SY 2025-26.
Gain knowledge, tools, and strategies to craft a community-responsive approach to building a sustainable ethnic studies plan.

Sessions held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom:

Session 1 – Oct. 12, 2023
Session 2 – Nov. 16, 2023
Session 3 – Feb. 15, 2024
Session 4 – Mar. 14, 2024
Local Education Agencies are encouraged to register multi-level teams, and individual educators are welcome.

Project CRESC Designing for Ethnic Studies Flyer

main contacts

Talisa Sullivan

Exec Director, Equity

School: 858-295-6579

Denise Falkenthal

Administrative Assistant III

School: 858-295-8976

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Equity

Single Hero Image interior pages

Email List

Equity Blueprint for action

Equity Conference

Equity in Education Videos

More to Explore

Black Excellence Series

Educator Resource Guides

Equity Library

California Regional Ethnic Studies Collaborative (Project CRESC)

RISE Urban Principal Preparation (RISE UPP)

Instructional Design for Equity/Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE)

main contacts

Youth Scholar Panel Videos

Professional Development

Ethnic Studies Collaborative for TK-12 Teachers

Project CRESC Designing for Ethnic Studies Professional Learning Series

main contacts

Talisa Sullivan

Denise Falkenthal