Introduction
As County Superintendent, one of the things I often find myself doing is helping clarify the role of the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE). While we serve all 40 school districts in Sonoma County, we do not run them. Most decisions about school policies, staffing, and day- to-day operations are made by locally elected school boards and the superintendents they hire. SCOE provides fiscal oversight and support, but we do not set district policy, intervene in disagreements between families and schools, award district contracts, or reverse personnel or disciplinary decisions.
At the same time, each of California’s 58 county offices of education has significant flexibility to respond to local needs. That is where I believe our work matters most. My role — and our office’s responsibility — is to listen carefully, identify emerging challenges, and partner with schools and communities to develop thoughtful, proactive solutions that support students across Sonoma County.
Like many of you, I read the headlines and hear directly from families and students about their experiences. While we cannot step into individual cases, it is deeply concerning anytime a child does not feel safe or welcome at school. In response to student surveys, community conversations, and reports of racism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination, we have invested in education to help school leaders and educators address bullying and bias when it occurs. We continue to encourage districts to adopt clear, consistent expectations and consequences that support safe and respectful learning environments for all students.;
We also hear families’ concerns about the rising cost of college and questions about the value of higher education. In response, we are working to expand opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school, and to strengthen career technical education programs aligned with both early college pathways and the needs of Sonoma County employers. These efforts help students graduate with more options, lower costs, and clearer pathways to their futures.
We have also been candid about the challenges we face in literacy. Reading proficiency remains one of the most important predictors of long-term success, and we know there is more work to do. That is why we launched the Sonoma County Literacy Promise — a collaborative effort bringing together schools, educators, and community partners to improve early reading outcomes. Through this initiative, hundreds of teachers have received training in evidence-based literacy practices. Now entering its third year, our K-3 literacy fellowship has supported more than 200 educators, helping ensure that more students read at grade level and build a strong foundation for learning.
This annual report highlights these local and discretionary initiatives and many others. It provides an overview of TK-12 education in Sonoma County, where approximately 65,000 students attend more than 170 public schools, and outlines SCOE’s state-mandated responsibilities, including fiscal oversight during a particularly complex time for education funding. I invite you to explore this report to learn more about these efforts — and the many ways we are working, alongside our districts and community partners, to support students across Sonoma County.
Dr. Amie R. Carter
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools