Education

There are no DoD schools aboard MCRD San Diego or in the greater San Diego area. San Diego County is home to more than 40 K-12 public school districts as well as private and parochial schools. As such, it is to your distinct advantage to utilize the services of the School Liaison Office aboard MCRD San Diego (Bldg. 6E, Tel. 619-524-8032 or 619-524-8104) to obtain information regarding attendance areas as well as specific immunization and admissions requirements.   

There are no DoD schools serving MCRD San Diego. Children attend the local public schools in their community. The School Liaison Office, 619-524-8032/8104 (DSN) 312-524-8032/8104, helps parents in making their child's educational transition a smooth one in and out of San Diego by providing information on local schools and boundaries, assistance with school choice, and access to other educational resources.

The school your child attends is determined by where you live. If you choose to live outside the city of San Diego, contact the San Diego County Office of Education. A huge range of private schools and alternative options exist. Contact MCRD San Diego's School Liaison Officers for more information 619-524-8032/8104.

School Calendar

School calendar schedules vary widely. Depending on where you decide to live, your child may attend a school on a regular September-June calendar schedule, or year-round, or 4-track system. Please remember that when you see listings of "UNIFIED" school districts, it means that those districts educate both elementary and secondary school students; Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Special Education

Federal and State laws require all public school districts to provide a "free, appropriate and individualized education for all handicapped children". Both Federal and State legislation mandate time lines for referral, assessment, certification, placement, and provisions of appropriate services to all students with exceptional needs.

The California Master Plan for Special Education is implemented in each district through a variety of educational programs for the learning handicapped, communicatively handicapped, physically handicapped, and severely handicapped. Instruction is given according to the needs of the student based on an individualized education plan. Parents participate in planning the specific educational program for their special education child.

In San Diego City Schools, about 10 percent of the total student enrollment, or over 12,000 students, receive some kind of special education services. Handicapping conditions range from the very mild, requiring only the occasional involvement of a resource teacher, to the severely impaired student who needs constant attention and care.

An individualized educational program is written for each special education student. The program is developed with the participation of the student's parents or guardian, who must approve the program. All special education teachers must be certified by the State of California for the specific instruction or services they provide to handicapped children.

The Special Education Parent Facilitator Program (SEPF) has been developed by San Diego City Schools to help parents of handicapped children, and facilitators are employed by the District to provide the education. The SEPF Program provides an important link between the home and the school for the purpose of improving services for the child.

San Diego County Office of Education Programs 

Among the special or focused educational options available to students in the San Diego County Office of Education jurisdiction are:  

• Friendship School - a special education school that serves students with disabilities that include severe to profound cognitive and /or physical disabilities and who require instruction in a structured setting with a small student/staff ratio.  Classes are designed to provide instruction that is functional and essential to the future needs of the students. Many students are medically fragile and therefore require specialized physical health care services in order to attend school.  The mission of Friendship School is to provide appropriate special education and related services to students with disabilities in order to promote development of their potential, and improve their motivation, achievement, and personal well-being. 
• The HOPE Infant Family Support Program - is a public special education program that offers services to infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. As part of California Early Start, the San Diego County Office of Education provides quality early intervention services through the HOPE Program. Services are offered at no cost to families.
• The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program -  provides challenging curriculum and instruction to gifted and talented students in California capable of achieving significantly beyond the level of their peers. GATE funds are used to design and deliver a supplemental differentiated program for individuals or groups of gifted and talented students with special needs. 
• School-to-Career -  provides participating students with skills for the world of work, higher education, and lifelong learning in the service of regional, economic, and social progress.  Program partners work collaboratively to develop a countywide School-to-Career system to achieve the mission.  Priority goals of the San Diego School-to-Career Partnership are; to work collaboratively with business, industry and Community Involvement Employers, educators, parents, and community to achieve an educational environment which motivates and equips students to find employment and adapt to workplace changes throughout their lives; to transform the teaching environment in order to ensure that teachers provide workplace relevant teaching methods that connect students to learning in new ways, utilizing technology, and promoting lifelong learning; to provide students with meaningful instruction which is relevant to the workplace and includes workplace learning experiences; and to assist districts in institutionalizing, integrating and supporting School-to-Career.  
• Outdoor Education - strives to connect students to science and nature through our Outdoor School and Outreach Programs.  Outreach programs include Splash Science Mobile Lab, Green Machine, Marine Science Floating Lab, Recycling Education, and Salk Institute Mobile Science Lab.  Students benefit through experiential learning programs that enhance awareness and scientific understanding of the natural world and their connection to it while building self-reliance, teamwork, and a sense of social responsibility.

San Diego County is home to more than 200 private primary and secondary schools, each one having its own academic curriculum, special programs, tuition, and fees. These alternatives to public schools offer families a learning atmosphere tailored to their own philosophies and their children's specific needs. For information about scholarships, entrance requirements and waiting lists check with the private school of your choice to obtain further information or contact MCRD School Liaison Office (619)524-8032/8104 for list of private schools for children in the San Diego area.