Student Support Services & Accountability
Overseeing SCOE Classrooms and Aiding Districts
The Student Support Services & Accountability division oversees the education provided to students in SCOE’s special and alternative education
programs. Staff support Sonoma County’s districts and charters with the development of Local Control Accountability Plans. These three-year documents are updated annually to outline the actions and expenditures aimed at improving student outcomes. Staff also work to ensure local compliance with various state and federal requirements and monitor school progress to support districts’ access to high- quality data.
The State’s School Accountability Tool
The California School Dashboard is the state’s tool designed to give a complete picture of how schools and districts are meeting students’ needs. The dashboard tracks indicators such as scores on state standardized tests, the progress of multilingual learners, chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness, graduation rates, and suspension rates.
Visit to learn more about the dashboard.
Alternative Education
Serving Students Outside their Home Districts
As part of SCOE’s mission to ensure every student in the county has access to the best possible education, SCOE operates two community schools and the educational programs at juvenile hall as part of its Alternative Education program.
Amarosa Academy in southwest Santa Rosa and Headwaters Academy in Petaluma are the community schools. They serve students who have experienced difficulties in traditional school settings or who are exhibiting negative behavior patterns in school or the community. Many have been expelled from a district school, identified as habitually truant, placed on probation by the juvenile court, or otherwise referred by a district, probation, or social service agency.
The program emphasizes reestablishing the educational direction of students by providing a learning environment that meets their needs. Often, students at Amarosa and Headwaters eventually return to classrooms in their home districts.
As part of their educational offerings, the academies offer community-building enrichment activities that in recent years have included clubs for bird-watching, weightlifting, and cooking. In addition, a wellness program integrating mental health with career technical education has been implemented into our programs at Amarosa and Headwaters.
Amarosa is also home to an independent study program as well as the Adera Teen Parent Program, which provides childcare, parenting resources, and related support to help pregnant and parenting students continue their education and graduate from high school.
The school at Sonoma County’s Juvenile Justice Center serves students ages 12 to 18 who have been arrested and booked on criminal charges and are either serving time or awaiting disposition by the court. They begin participation in school within 24 hours of detention, with enrollment varying from one day to several months.
In the 2023-24 school year, SCOE’s community and court schools served approximately 101 students daily and about 327 students during the school year from throughout Sonoma County.
“I’m smarter than I think I am… anyone can do anything, you’ve just gotta put your mind to it.”
– Alex Bautista Sanchez, Amarosa Academy student whose team won a work-based learning challenge in the spring of 2024.
Special Education
County Office’s Programs Shrink as Districts Expand Offerings
Every child in California has a constitutional right to a free public education. SCOE’s Special Education department has for decades offered instruction and services to children ages 3 to 22 who have physical, emotional, cognitive, or developmental disabilities. Each has been identified to receive specialized instruction through an individualized education program (IEP).
In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that students who receive special education services learn best when they can access their education in their neighborhood schools. Furthermore, all students benefit socially when students who receive special education services are integrated into the general student population as much as possible.
As a result of this research, educational leaders at the state students with IEPs. SCOE, in partnership with Sonoma County districts and the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), have prioritized keeping students in their neighborhood schools whenever possible. This has resulted in a significant decline in the number of students who receive special education services directly from SCOE.
SCOE’s special education staff are trained to work with populations who have specific disabilities, such as students who are deaf or hard of hearing, or those who are blind or visually impaired. Specialists visit schools throughout the county and provide support tailored to students' needs. SCOE’s certificated school nurses and licensed vocational nurses support children with significant healthcare needs so that they can learn on general education campuses.
SCOE’s Transition program teaches job and life skills to young adults ages 18 to 22 who are eligible for special education services. Educational activities take place at community settings that include work sites, banks, and public transportation. The program’s goal is to help students become as independent as possible and secure competitive employment where they are fully integrated into their work site.
The county office actively collaborates with the SELPA director, staff, and governing board to help ensure there is a continuum of educational services available to students with all types of learning needs. For more information on special education services in Sonoma County, visit the SELPA’s website and local levels have encouraged school districts to educate.