Humboldt County Office of Education: What is a County Office of Education?

While the day to day education of students is the responsibility of individual school districts at the local level, county offices of education represent another level, providing an important support system for school districts in their counties and serving as a liaison with the state.

County offices do not directly oversee or govern individual school districts. They provide valuable support and services that are essential to local school district operations. They ensure district fiscal accountability, approve district Local Control & Accountability Plans (LCAPs), and provide professional development opportunities.

COEs also often serve the county’s most vulnerable student populations. The Humboldt County Office of Education’s Glen Paul School, Court & Community Schools program, and its Foster and Homeless Youth Services program, are examples of this. HCOE serves an especially important role to the area’s many smaller school distircts, which rely on HCOE for student support services.

HCOE also facilitates and supports various programs for our youngest learners, such as our Special Beginnings Program, Redwood Learners Preschool, and oversight of the Local Childcare Planning Council.

Finally, HCOE also runs a number of student enrichment initiatives. Programs like the Health Care Careers Exploration Summer Institute (HESI), Technology Exploration Summer Institute (TESI), and Trades Academy Summer Institute (TASI) offer students opportunities in Career Technical Education. HCOE facilitates events such as the GATE Academy, Youth Arts Festival, Doris Niles Science Fair, and Seal of Biliteracy program.

Learn more about all of HCOE’s student enrichment events here.