Orange County Department of Education Employee Directory
Education Administration ProgramsCalifornia, United States1001-5000 Employees
OCDE is a public education agency in the education administration field, based in Costa Mesa, California. It serves some of Orange County’s most vulnerable students and provides mandated fiscal oversight to 28 school districts that operate more than 600 schools and educate roughly 450,000 students. Beyond direct instruction through its own alternative and special education programs, OCDE administers a wide range of services that support district operations and community colleges, including professional development, legal guidance, payroll, career and technical education support, high-speed internet access, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval, family resources, and student enrichment. Serving school districts, community colleges, and families across Orange County, the organization addresses administrative, compliance, and instructional needs vital to sustaining student outcomes. It positions itself as a provider of essential operational and programmatic support within the education sector, backed by a substantial workforce. A notable recent development is the May 2026 launch of Project Zero Waste, a free, standards-aligned K-12 curriculum developed with OC Waste & Recycling to advance environmental learning in classrooms countywide.