Differentiated Assistance (DA) is a unique service offered by county offices of education to local educational agencies (LEA) eligible for additional support in addressing gaps in student performance, as shown on the . DA helps schools and districts identify and address the underlying causes that led to its eligibility for assistance. It also enhances their ability to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of their strategies and programs.

The County Office of Education's Systems for District Improvement department offers support and guidance to LEAs by building strong relationships and promoting equitable access to resources for students and families in San Mateo County. Our customizable service framework allows educators to tailor our support to their unique needs.

Framework of Support in San Mateo County

The Systems for District Improvement department provides a flexible service framework that districts can customize to fit their unique needs.

a teacher works with a high school student

Red bar

Option One

Support for districts eligible for DA that successfully implement their own cycle of continuous improvement. 

  • Quarterly check-in meetings
  • Differentiated assistance-related workshops

Orange bar

Option Two

Support for districts eligible for DA implementing their own cycle of continuous improvement and need external support. 

  • Monthly check-in meetings
  • Differentiated assistance-related workshops
  • Support with components of Continuous Improvement Cycle

Yellow bar

Option Three

Support for districts eligible for DA that need guidance through a complete cycle of continuous improvement (Recommended for LEAs with new DA eligibilities)

  • Monthly check-in meetings
  • Differentiated assistance-related workshops
  • Support with complete Continuous Improvement Cycle

Red bar

Orange bar

Yellow bar

51勛圖 the California Statewide System of Support

At its heart, is focused on improving the outcomes of California’s students. It's purpose, according to California Education Code , is to build LEAs' capacity in:

  • supporting the continuous improvement of student performance in eight priority areas
  • Address gaps in achievement between student groups
  • Improve outreach and collaboration with partners to ensure  reflect the needs of students and the community

Three Levels of Support

The primary goal of California’s System of Support is to help LEAs and their schools meet the needs of every student. The system focuses on building local capacity to sustain improvement and effectively address disparities in opportunities and outcomes. There are three levels of support:

Level 1: Universal

State and local agencies provide an array of support resources, tools, and technical assistance to all LEAs. These resources aim to improve student performance and reduce disparities among student groups while recognizing success and promising practices.

Level 2: Targeted (Differentiated Assistance)

County superintendents, charter authorizers, the California Department of Education, and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) provide differentiated assistance for eligible LEAs to address identified performance issues, including significant disparities in performance among student groups.

Level 3: Intensive 

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction may require more intensive interventions for LEAs with persistent performance issues and a lack of improvement over a four-year period.

An upside down triangle broken into three levels

Joy Dardenelle

Executive Director, Systems for District Improvement

Email: jdardenelle@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5315

Carrie Blanton

Coordinator, District Improvement and Support

Email: cblanton@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5337