For over a decade, Inflexion has partnered with the Orange County Department of Education to drive systemic improvements and foster educational equity. Through projects like the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant, Inflexion has demonstrated its ability to manage multi-year, multi-site initiatives while addressing critical challenges in education. By focusing on computational thinking skills and career readiness Inflexion has played a pivotal role in increasing confidence and enrollment in computer science courses among Latinx and female students. This partnership exemplifies Inflexion’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions that address complex challenges and create lasting impact.
Client Background
The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) in California supports 28 school districts, over 600 schools, and approximately 450,000 students. Dedicated to fostering innovation and equity, OCDE collaborates with partners like Inflexion to design and implement programs that address diverse student needs. These programs focus on enhancing instructional practices, promoting career readiness, and closing opportunity gaps, particularly for underserved student populations.
Collaborating with Inflexion
Inflexion’s partnership with OCDE spans over a decade, with collaborations that include securing competitive federal grants, conducting evaluations, and implementing large-scale initiatives. Inflexion’s involvement often begins at the grant-writing stage, as seen with the EIR grant, where their expertise helped secure funding and establish a framework for success.
Inflexion’s Approach
Inflexion addresses OCDE’s challenges with a comprehensive and innovative approach:
- Grant Support and Federal Reporting– Inflexion collaborates on grant proposals and assists with federal reporting requirements, ensuring compliance and clarity throughout the project lifecycle.
- Coherence Reviews– Inflexion conducts detailed reviews of systems and structures to ensure alignment with program goals, fostering consistent implementation across schools.
- Adaptability in Multi-Year Projects- Inflexion excels at navigating the complexities of multi-year, multi-site projects by remaining flexible and responsive to changing needs. This adaptability ensures the longevity and relevance of OCDE’s initiatives, even as educational priorities evolve.
- Scalable Solutions- Inflexion designs frameworks and programs with scalability in mind, ensuring that successful initiatives can be replicated across OCDE’s 28 districts and 600 schools. This approach maximizes the impact of each project and extends its reach to benefit more students and educators.
Selected Research Projects
Inflexion’s partnership with OCDE has resulted in impactful, forward-thinking initiatives designed to enhance student outcomes, promote equity, and foster career readiness across the region:
- Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant- A five-year project focused on integrating computational thinking into math and science courses for Latinx and female students. Goals included increasing enrollment in computer science courses by addressing foundational skill gaps and boosting student confidence. Math Anxiety Research Brief and Computer Science Research Brief
- Makerspace and E-Sports Career Pathways- Explored innovative approaches to career readiness by incorporating makerspace activities and e-sports as viable career paths. Focused on aligning modern student interests with emerging industries to create practical opportunities for skill development.
Results
Inflexion’s collaboration with OCDEhas yielded significant and transformative results. By integrating computational thinking into core math and science courses, the EIR grant program has helped students build confidence and preparedness for advanced computer science classes, particularly among Latinx and female students who have historically been underrepresented in these fields.
In addition to enhancing student outcomes, the comprehensive evaluation processes and coherence reviews conducted by Inflexion have ensured that program goals align seamlessly with implementation practices, resulting in more effective and scalable interventions. These successes not only highlight the immediate impact of the EIR grant but also position OCDE and Inflexion to replicate similar initiatives, extending their reach and influence to more schools and communities.
