ABOUT US

The Region 8 District and School Support Center is one of twelve offices in the state-wide Regional System of District & School Support (RSDSS).  This support center works with schools and districts in Region 8, comprised of Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.  Our goal is to help school staffs build and sustain the capacity necessary to improve the success of all students through:

• Offering regional institutes in comprehensive planning, school reform, and plan writing. 
• Coaching school and district staff as they review and redesign their practices in:

                a) comprehensive planning
                b) needs assessment
                c) selection or construction of key standards and aligned assessments 
                d) development of rigorous, relevant, and coordinated standards- 
                    based assessment and accountability support systems.

• Providing organizational tools for streamlining multiple state and federal planning requirements into a single data-driven, comprehensive school plan.
  
• Reviewing and suggesting multimedia materials and resources that support districts and schools as they strive to:

                a) clearly define a vision of what all students should know and be able to do

                b) establish priorities based on analysis of data collected in comprehensive 
                    needs assessments
                c) write integrated improvement plans that clarify how parents and community 
                    will assist the school in pushing all students toward mastery of rigorous 
                    content standards
d ) write integrated improvement plans that clarify how parents and community will assist                          the school in pushing all students toward mastery of rigorous content standards.

• Guiding schools and districts as they coordinate programs and funds from multiple federal and state sources into single, focused, fully integrated reform effort.
  
• Supporting effective school-parent partnerships and parental participation in decision making and advisory roles.
  
• Offering professional development opportunities intended to foster improved teaching and learning.
  
• Facilitating the formation of principal, teacher, and leadership team networks to promote collaboration and sharing of proven practices and strategies.
  

RSDSS staff coordinates support activities that include the following:

• School Site Councils and Leadership Teams - training advisement
• District School Liaison Teams (DSLT)- training, advisement
• County offices of education - advisement, professional developments, academic, audits, resources
• Regional School Support and Improvement Centers - technical assistance, professional development, resources
• California Comprehensive Assistance Center at WestEd - on-line resources, tools and professional development
• California Department of Education - data management, program monitoring, on-line resources, and professional development

School or district staff interested in taking advantage of these services and resources should contact the regional center in their area. See below for regional contact nearest you.