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1852 | State Legislature authorized creation of Office of the County Superintendent of Schools. County assessors automatically assumed the new post. |
1853 | J.E. Morgan became Santa Clara County's first superintendent. |
1855 | County superintendent became an elected office. Voters chose San Jose teacher Freeman Gates as first Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools. |
1860 | State authorized county superintendent to appoint County Board of Examination to grant teaching certificates. |
1879 | County Superintendent established as an office by state constitution. Duties expanded to include adoption of textbooks. |
1881 | Number of school districts increased to 62 county-wide. |
1900 | County's schools reflected continued population growth: 14,320 students with 562 teachers. A total of 97 schools in 84 districts. |
1911 | Teachers' Institute of Santa Clara COE among first professional development offerings. |
1918 | Supervision of "attendance and child welfare" added to duties of county superintendent. |
1921 | - County Emergency and Supervision Fund established to help small districts and those with crises.
- Superintendent's office housed in County Hall of Records.
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1945 | Supervision of small districts, assistance with redistricting, and provision of business services added to duties of county superintendent. |
1946 | State issued "professional requirements" for county superintendents. |
1948 | Chandler Tripp School opened for students with orthopedic disabilities. |
1950 | - State Legislature declared "coordination in order to improve educational services and ensure equity of opportunity" as most important function of COE.
- School districts began consolidating for efficiency; totalled 49 districts by 1953. Redwood Glen Science Camp opened at several sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
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1955 | - Rapid growth in student population increased demand for teacher credentialing, school auditing and accounting, and purchasing services. From 1945-55, student numbers tripled from 21,008 to 61,729!
- COE classes at Juvenile Hall and James Boys Ranch provided alternative schooling.
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1957 | - County Board of Education, previously appointed by County Board of Supervisors, was elected by general public.
- State Education Code emphasized COE's "services to schools." COE staff increased from 32 to 151 people.
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1959 | COE special education efforts expanded to include McKinnon School, Chandler Tripp, and a class for children with visual impairments. |
1964 | Educational television (ETV Ch. 54) launched as joint operation by county and COE. KTEH Learning Services began serving schools the next year. |
1965 | COE began local operation of Head Start, the new federally funded program for preschoolers. |
1967 | County superintendent now an appointed position (by the County Board of Education) |
1970 | - COE moved main office to Santa Teresa Street in San Jose, after several years at 70 West Hedding.
- First Annual Teacher Recognition Day conducted by COE with support of community activists.
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1971 | First all-day pre-school, Campbell Children's Center, opened for low-income families; later re-named Parkway Child Development Program. |
1972 | Number of students served by alternative schools climbed to 397 at four sites. |
1973 | County Board of Supervisors transferred all educational responsibilities to County Board of Education. |
1974 | - Moved to 100 Skyport Drive in San Jose to consolidate all departments.
- Foundry Community School established.
- California's Master Plan for Special Education passed, guaranteeing free education to all children with exceptional needs.
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1976 | - COE Business Branch processed payroll for 35 districts and audited 200,000 district warrants per year.
- COE-based Regional Educational Center for Automatic Processing (RECAP) operated round-the-clock computer system to provide districts with scheduling, test scoring, and attendance services.
- Redwood Glen (later Walden West) pioneered outdoor education for 10,000 students in 1975-76.
- Migrant Program was established and served 50 children.
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1978 | Jarvis-Gann Initiative (Proposition 13) passed statewide, limiting property taxes and reducing revenues for education. |
1980 | - New alternative computer backup system installed to safeguard school district payroll and other services against power failures.
- U.S. Dept. of Labor presented COE with National Award for Outstanding Vocational Education Program.
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1981 | Microcomputer Center opened at COE for teacher training on Apples, Ataris, and Commodores. |
1982 | - U.S. Secretary of Education Terrel Bell commended SCCOE for "leadership in developing advanced approaches to instruction and administration – especially programs adapting technology to education management."
- COE awarded state funds to administer new regional program to teach computer science to teachers.
- Educational Development Center launched.
- Redwood Glen outdoor education program moved to Saratoga site.
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1985 | Head Start celebrated 20th Anniversary in Santa Clara County. |
1986 | The name of Redwood Glen changed to Walden West Outdoor School. |
1987 | - Teen Age Parent Program (TAPP) began at Moorpark Community School.
- First COE Teacher Recruitment Fair held for school districts.
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1989 | - COE was only west coast finalist for Sears Roebuck Foundation's national Excellence in Secondary Special Education Award.
- U.S. Dept. of Labor gave Outstanding Special Project Award to COE Special Education Vocational Education Program – "a model in both state and nation."
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1991 | First COE Staff Recognition led to annual event. |
1992 | COE became the regional center for Advancement Via Individual Determination program, helping disadvantaged students gain college admission. |
1994 | - Commitment 2000 long-range planning launched; mission re-examined and new motto, "Champions for Children, Schools and Community," established.
- COE Technology Lab trained more than 1,000 teachers, administrators, staff.
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1995 | - COE moved from rented space on Skyport to permanent headquarters at 1290 Ridder Park Dr., San Jose for greater economy and more space.
- Quality Management System and Internal Staff Development units established.
- First Young Artists Showcase starts COE permanent collection of student art.
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1996 | - Grant Resource Center opened; two years later, grants increased by 150%.
- Quality Improvement Training Program began for all staff.
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1997 | - Staff Health Promotion and Wellness Program started.
- COE-based Internet Institute attracted more than 1,000 teachers to training sites throughout Bay Area.
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1998 | - First Quality Celebration Day.
- COE hosted first county-wide Young Leaders Recognition Program for middle school students.
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1999 | - COE assisted under-performing schools.
- More than 65,000 students were served by COE programs: 28,000 – Special Education and SELPA, 9,000 – Alternative Education; 2,349 – Head Start/Preschool; 5,540 – Regional Occupational Programs; 11,500 – Migrant Education, and 9,700 – Walden West.
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2000 | - Y2K Team enabled COE to make smooth transition into new century.
- Regional Occupational Programs enrolled 6,000 high school students and adults.
- Walden West celebrated its 50th Anniversary; 400,000 students had taken part in its outdoor education activities.
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2001 | - Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program graduated a record 185 college-bound seniors.
- Early Head Start and Teenage Parent Program joined forces to help teen mothers.
- Board established COE Student Recognition Program.
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2002 | SCCOE celebrates 150 years of service. |
2009 | SCCOE and City of San José launch SJ2020, a collaborative initiative to close the achievement gap in city schools by 2020. |