Report to the Community
During the 2024-25 school year, the San Mateo County Office of Education continued to make significant progress in advancing the goals of our strategic plan. At a time when public education is under unusual strain due to threats to federal funding and programming, we are intent on shaping a vision for the county that is child-centered. Going forward, our office will work tirelessly to ensure every child, regardless of background, has access to the educational opportunities they deserve and to push forward key initiatives that support youth behavioral health, climate-ready and sustainable school communities, and early literacy.
Our 2024-25 Report to the Community highlights the County Office of Education's progress in supporting whole-child student outcomes, building the education workforce, strengthening our advocacy and partnerships, and helping every staff member to embody our vision and values.
Nancy Magee, Superintendent of Schools
County Office of Education
The role of county offices of education has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. As administrative units of the State, their budgets largely consist of staff expenses to support programs and services that are essential to local school districts and that can be offered more efficiently and economically at the county level.
The County Office of Education roughly oversees $119 million in revenue and expenditures annually. Below is a breakdown of the County Office of Education's 2024-25 second interim budget. View an interactive tool displaying the 2024-25 budget information or download an accessible version of the budget.
Vision
Excellence in Education
Every Student • Every Educator • Every School
Mission
- Inspiring Students
- Investing in Teachers
- Invigorating Leaders
- Involving Families & Communities
Launching the 2023-28 Strategic Plan
In August 2023, the County Office of Education launched its 2023-28 Strategic Plan, which centers around four goals that strengthen public education in San Mateo County. Since launching the plan, the County Office of Education has deepened its work in each goal area to build an education system that supports all students in their journey from birth to career.
Goal One: Support Whole-Child Student Outcomes
The County Office of Education fosters positive relationships and learning environments countywide to help all students achieve personal and academic success. It is improving systems to support better outcomes for youth enrolled in the County Office of Education's Court and Community and Special Education school programs.
2024-25 School Year Accomplishments:
- Launched the United for Youth Vision 2030 Blueprint to address behavioral health disparities and align services across sectors.
- Led local efforts to develop and implement comprehensive, evidence-based practices such as the science of reading and universal reading screeners to help students become successful readers.
- Supported 11 schools in receiving statewide recognition for adopting Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.
- Expanded the Anne Campbell Child Development Center, an inclusive preschool program that earned the highest rating on San Mateo County's Quality Rating and Improvement System.
- Improved academic outcomes in our K-22 Special Services and Court and Community Schools programs, with 100% of Court and Community students passing key math and science courses.
- Initiated a new countywide arts education leadership council, San Mateo County Creates, where visual and performing arts leads and community partners collaborate, share best practices, and support strategic arts planning.
2024-25 School Year Accomplishments:
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Launched the United for Youth Vision 2030 Blueprint to address behavioral health disparities and align services across sectors.
- Led local efforts to develop and implement comprehensive, evidence-based practices such as the science of reading and universal reading screeners to help students become successful readers.
- Supported 11 schools in receiving statewide recognition for adopting Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.
- Expanded the Anne Campbell Child Development Center, an inclusive preschool program that earned the highest rating on San Mateo County's Quality Rating and Improvement System.
- Improved academic outcomes in our K-22 Special Services and Court and Community Schools programs, with 100% of Court and Community students passing key math and science courses.
- Initiated a new countywide arts education leadership council, San Mateo County Creates, where visual and performing arts leads and community partners collaborate, share best practices, and support strategic arts planning.
Goal Two: Build the Workforce for Student Success
To support students in realizing their full potential, the County Office of Education prioritizes creating a well-prepared education workforce that is student-centered and sustainable, culturally and linguistically diverse, and committed to equitable and antiracist practices.
2024-25 School Year Accomplishments:
- Assisted current and prospective early learning and care professionals through hosting more than 160 navigation sessions, offering an Early Learning and Care Stipend, and piloting a North County Early Childhood Education Cohort.
- Attracted nearly 300 job seekers at the annual Education Employment Fair. resulting in 20+ on-site interviews for open positions in school districts.
- Supported 16 aspiring educators in earning their Master's and teaching credential through the Teacher Residency Program.
- Engaged 13 North County youth to participate in YEEE!, a paid work-based learning program focused on early childhood education.
Goal Three: Strengthen Advocacy and Partnership
The County Office of Education is strengthening its advocacy work and partnerships to support student achievement, lift up community voices, and address disparities and inequities in education.
2024-25 School Year Accomplishments:
- Received the 2025 Stanford University Community Partnership Award for the Tobacco Use Prevention and Education (TUPE) program.
- Engaged 150+ students in Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution events, promoting civil rights and social justice.
- Partnered with local cities through the School Travel Fellowship, resulting in $2.75M in grants for permanent infrastructure improvements.
- Released a Universal PreKindergarten Mixed Delivery System Planning Report through the Child Care Partnership Council to ensure all four-year-olds and more three-year-olds have access to full-day, high-quality education and care programs.
Goal Four: Embody OneSMCOE Vision and Values
The County Office of Education promotes an organizational culture of community, collaboration, and belonging, one where all staff are committed to serving students in an authentic, culturally-responsive, and impactful way.
2024-25 School Year Accomplishments:
- Completed a Classification and Compensation Study to ensure equitable pay for classified staff
- Developed an internal Equity Action Plan to deepen the organization’s commitment to antiracist practices
- Focused on creating a positive workplace culture across all sites, resulting in seven out of 10 employees recommending the County Office of Education as a good place to work
- Improved employees' job satisfaction, finding that most employees are fulfilled by their work and feel their efforts are valued
2025 Special Awards
Schools Receive 2025 Distinguished Schools Award
Eleven elementary schools from seven school districts in San Mateo County received a 2025 California Distinguished School Award from the California Department of Education for their progress in supporting student success. These schools were selected by their ability to demonstrate excellence and growth in academic achievement and ensure a positive school climate.
San Mateo Union High School District Receives 2025 California Green Ribbon Schools Award
The California Department of Education awarded the San Mateo Union High School District a 2025 California Green Ribbon School award, Bronze level.
2024 Special Awards
San Mateo County Schools Implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
With the support of the County Office of Education, 11 San Mateo County schools received statewide recognition in 2024 for their implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) – an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. This was the first time San Mateo County schools have been recognized by the state for implementing PBIS since the 2020-21 school year.
Sequoia Union High School District is Recognized as 2024 California Model School Attendance Review Board
In May 2024, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that the Sequoia Union High School District's school attendance review board (SARB) and 22 other SARBs were designated as model programs by the State SARB for exemplary practices that contribute to reducing chronic absenteeism rates and improving student attendance.
The web app below displays each district’s legal boundaries and summary performance data from the 2023-24 school year, as reported on the California School Dashboard. The different colors represent the different unified and high school districts in our county. Simply click on a district to see its summary information. If you click on a smaller district that is one of several of the same color, you will see a small box in the pop-up window that says “1 of 2.” Clicking the arrows inside that box will toggle between the information for the elementary school district and the larger high school district it feeds into. To see more detailed district performance data from the California Dashboard, scroll down to the row that says “Link to CDE Dashboard” and click “View.”