The Power of Partnerships: Creating Collective Impact for Every Learner
- Laurie Balsano-Wright
- Sep 29
- 4 min read
Posted by: Dr. Laurie Balsano Wright, Coordinator & Leah Padilla, Coordinator, Open Access
Across California, school systems are facing the same central challenge: how to make high-quality first instruction accessible for all students, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance. At the heart of the solution are two complementary efforts: Supporting Innovative Practices (SIP) which brings the heart and why for inclusion, and Open Access which provides the practical what and how through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Together, our projects produce a collective impact that shifts school culture, classroom practice, and systems-level supports across counties throughout California.
Collaboration and Integration
SIP grounds teams in the moral, human-centered reasons for inclusion and the relationships and mindsets that make inclusion possible. Open Access supplies the concrete, research-based strategies through UDL and accessibility that teachers and leaders can implement, measure, and scale. When SIP and Open Access work in tandem, districts receive both the inspiration and the implementation plan they need to embed inclusive practices sustainably.
Santa Barbara Inclusion Network: A First-of-its-Kind Collaboration
Santa Barbara County is leading the way with a groundbreaking partnership between the County Office of Education, SELPA, and the Statewide System of Support. This first-of-its-kind collaboration is setting the standard for how cross-agency efforts can move from high-level network sessions into deep, site-based impact that transforms schools.
Now entering Year 3, the Santa Barbara Inclusion Network continues to strengthen district and school teams by:
Expanding UDL training so classroom teachers can design lessons and apply strategies that are equitable, intentional, and accessible for all learners.
Equipping administrators to make system-level changes that ensure equitable access schoolwide.
This work demonstrates two key lessons:
School teams are eager for more than just an introduction. They want ongoing training and coaching that turn ideas into meaningful daily practice.
Leaders are prepared to shift systems in order to sustain what works.
Santa Barbara’s model is emerging as a powerful example for counties across California, showing what’s possible when educational partners work together toward high-quality, accessible learning for all.
Scale and Spread: Yolo and Marin Counties
A hallmark of collective impact is scale: not just isolated success, but success spread across contexts. Beginning in Fall 2025, Open Access and SIP will extend their support beyond Santa Barbara into counties such as Yolo and Marin. This growth is made possible through contextualized training and coaching, with support tailored to each county’s unique priorities and initiatives. The result is not a cookie-cutter replication, but a purposeful spread: districts are implementing the same UDL principles while adapting practices to local needs, maintaining fidelity to the framework while allowing for flexibility.
Impactful Changes
When districts receive support from the Statewide System of Support, change shows up in multiple, meaningful ways:
Classroom Practice: Teachers use multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression. Students produce more complete performance-task responses because scaffolds and choice are built in from the start.
Teacher Learning: Coaching cycles move beyond single workshops. Teachers plan, teach, get feedback, and refine. Professional learning becomes practice-based and immediately applicable.
Leadership Decisions: Administrators shift from asking “Did teachers attend?” to “What student learning artifacts show improved access?”
Student Experience: Students report greater agency, more choices in how they demonstrate learning, and fewer barriers to showing what they know.
UDL in Action Across Lompoc Unified
When a district commits to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), meaningful change begins to take shape. And that’s exactly what’s happening across Lompoc Unified School District in Santa Barbara County. Principals are working with Open Access to build systems that increase student engagement and access, with some practices already underway and others in development.
At one site, the principal and her instructional team are beginning to use the Open Access Walkthrough Tool to guide classroom visits. Their plan is to help teachers reflect on strategies already in place, identify areas for growth, and create a consistent cycle of feedback and support.
Another principal is working with her staff to expand opportunities for choice. Plans include increasing teacher-to-teacher classroom visits and collaboration time, giving educators the chance to share strategies and broaden the range of approaches available to students.
One school has already launched a sitewide focus on building community each morning. A “song of the day” and Morning Meeting now start the day for all grade levels, with many teachers also adding their own classroom meetings, including some in the afternoon as a reflective close. These routines are already creating safe, collaborative environments where students feel a stronger sense of belonging.
Another leadership team kicked off the year with a challenge for teachers: make one small change in your classroom that could increase learner agency. Teachers are now exploring what those changes look like in practice and considering how to sustain them throughout the year.
Across Lompoc Unified, UDL implementation looks different at each site, and that’s by design. Some practices are already in place, while others are just beginning, but together they reflect a district-wide commitment to building accessible, engaging learning environments for all.
Call to Action
Explore the State System of Support Toolkit and California Special Education Technical Assistance Network (CalTAN)
Discover a wide variety of tools, resources, and connections designed to support your school community. The State System of Support Resource Hub highlights how California’s educational initiatives are integrating for local impact, making it easier than ever to find what you need to strengthen teaching and learning. CalTAN provides evidence-based special education resources to school districts as they continue to improve upon the systems that support positive outcomes for students in California receiving Special Education services.
Start exploring the Resource Hub and Directory today.
Visit CALTAN to locate evidence-based resources.
Mark your calendars for the State System of Support Virtual Connecting California Conference on November 12, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM PST. This engaging event offers an opportunity to connect with the Statewide System of Support, explore how California’s educational initiatives are integrating for local impact, and access a variety of tools and resources for your school community. Register now! https://connectingcalifornia.vfairs.com/
