The Competitive Edge Initiative promotes a higher level of access and opportunity for all students within the public school system. A focus of the Competitive Edge Initiative is to provide educators professional development opportunities that help them integrate the concepts of access and opportunity into policies and practices, while developing an appreciation of other cultures, languages, orientations, and backgrounds, among all groups of students and staff.

 

Providing a Competitive Edge in Riverside County

Students Get a Fresh Start for the School Year  

Over 1,600 children started the school year ready thanks to the 4th Annual Back-to-School Resource Fairs held in partnership with RCOE, Alvord Unified School District, and Lake Elsinore Unified School District. The free events served students in foster care and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Children received new shoes, backpacks with school supplies, haircut vouchers, dental/eye screenings, groceries, lunch, and more. The fairs brought together districts, community partners, and volunteers—turning supplies into confidence and a day of service into a fresh start.

New Playgrounds Ensure Everybody Can Play

New adaptive school playgrounds from Riverside County Office of Education are bringing joy, inclusion, and accessibility to students of all abilities. From wheelchair-accessible swings, to sensory gardens and musical features, these spaces ensure that every child is valued regardless of their physical or developmental needs.

These new playgrounds make it possible for every child to experience the joy of play—like swinging for the very first time. With sensory-friendly features and a universally designed layout, it’s built to support all students in an inclusive, accessible environment.

Building Capacity for Impactful Practices

The Systemic Impact and Change team provides ongoing opportunities for growth and support to Riverside County school districts and RCOE programs as they begin and continue the work of this initiative.

2025 ETE: Elevate Our Impact

Excellence Through Education Conference 2025. Elevate our impact.

Thank you to all who attended and supported the 2025 Excellence Through Education Conference.  Join us next year for this premier event designed to empower and equip school districts, sites, and community partners with evidence-based practices to address imbalances within systems, structures, and practices.

Save the Date: September 17-18, 2026

Supporting Innovative Practices (SIP) Project

The Supporting Innovative Practices (SIP) Project partners with the Riverside County Office of Education, El Dorado County Office of Education, and the California Department of Education to expand opportunities for students with disabilities. The project supports the core work of the Competitive Edge Initiative by focusing on how to extend its reach throughout the state. 

We encourage all education partners including parents, teachers, administrators and policy makers to explore their resources and events.

SIP Events
Including the free, virtual 4th Annual Inclusion Conference, "Pump It Up: Elevating Voices and Belonging," scheduled for May 8-9, 2025.

Special EDge Newsletter
Covering topics in depth for parents, educators, services providers and policymakers related to improving services for students with disabilities.

SIP Events Archive
Providing recorded webinars, podcasts, and the annual conference.

Fall 2024 Update

Major outreach events like the Back To School Resource Fair and another year of Winter Wonderland events continue to offer support to students and families in the county while the Systemic Impact and Change unit continues to support educators with trainings and conferences.

Expanding on our Success Walks from 2023-2024, RCOE is proud to continue the partnership with our districts and offer School Showcase tours for 2024-2025. These tours are intentionally designed opportunities for educator-to-educator learning across sites demonstrating successful practices. Educators will spend time learning from leadership on the site, walking classrooms, and reviewing artifacts to take back to their own sites and apply to their unique contexts.

Partner districts have also been offered a free year of user access to digiCOACH where the Success Walk tool was digitized and available for site use to build capacity of teams. The digitized tool of look-fors of best practices can be used to collect data, access live reports, and offer feedback across teams in the name of continuous improvement. 

RCOE Partnership with Special Olympics

This initiative comes alive when students with disabilities and general education students compete side by side in a variety of sports.

Resources

 10-064-25-SIC_November2025AwarenessSpotlightsGraphics_WebBanner

In celebration of the many contributions of historically marginalized identities, RCOE Systemic Impact and Change invites you to learn more through heritage months throughout the year. 

Find recognition descriptions, resources, and activities for each month on the Awareness Spotlight page. 

Work Across RCOE

Educational Services

College and Career Readiness

Instructional Services

Early Education Services

Leadership, Wellness, and Student Services

Systemic Impact and Change

Student Programs and Services

Special Education

Upcoming Events

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