CCEE Communications
In partnership with Morongo Unified School District and Open Access.
When Morongo Unified School District joined the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence’s (CCEE) Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Network, district leaders were looking for more than professional development, they were looking for a community of educators tackling similar challenges.
As a small rural district, Morongo faced many of the same barriers experienced by districts across California. They wanted to learn from others, share ideas, and build a sustainable approach to implementing Universal Design for Learning that would benefit every student.
“Our team wanted to connect with other districts that were implementing UDL,” said Eric Smith, Program Specialist. “We wanted to learn from their successes and struggles. Although we are a small rural district, we have many of the same barriers that other districts have.”
Building Capacity Through Partnership
The UDL Network is facilitated by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) in partnership with the California Coalition for Inclusive Learning (CCIL), Supporting Inclusive Practices (SIP), and Open Access. Together, these organizations demonstrate the success of the Statewide System of Support (SSOS), by bringing complementary expertise to help districts strengthen inclusive instructional practices through coaching, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
For Morongo Unified, one of the most important shifts came from reframing UDL as an instructional framework for all learners rather than a special education initiative.
“One of the most valuable aspects of participating in the network was the support in shifting UDL from a SELPA-led initiative to one led through Instructional Services,” Eric shared. “We have been intentional about recognizing that UDL is designed to support all students, not just students receiving special education services.”
According to Leah Padilla of Open Access, that shift represented an important milestone in Morongo’s implementation journey.
“The district’s instructional leadership is clearly communicating that UDL is a framework for designing instruction that benefits every learner,” she explained. “Instructional Services and SELPA are now sharing the work and strengthening Tier 1 instruction together.”
From One-Time Training to Continuous Learning
Rather than relying on isolated professional development sessions, Morongo adopted a continuous improvement approach to implementation.
When Open Access began supporting the district in early 2024, district leaders already understood that meaningful implementation would require more than a one- or two-day workshop. After joining the CCEE UDL Network later that year, Twentynine Palms Junior High formalized a plan for monthly professional learning focused on UDL implementation.
These recurring learning opportunities allowed educators to focus on one strategy at a time, apply it in their classrooms, reflect on their practice, and receive coaching before moving to the next step.
“Instead of feeling overwhelmed by trying to implement everything at once,” Leah noted, “educators were able to experiment, learn from one another, and gradually build both confidence and capacity in implementing UDL.”
Today, UDL has become part of Morongo Unified’s districtwide communication and instructional improvement efforts. Schools continue to receive ongoing training and coaching as implementation expands across the district.
Seeing the Difference
For Eric, the most meaningful evidence of progress doesn’t come from a spreadsheet, it comes from students.
He recalls hearing from students who transferred to other schools and spoke about what they missed most: the opportunities to collaborate with classmates and the flexibility to demonstrate their learning using tools and materials that helped them succeed.
The district has also found that implementing UDL through ongoing coaching and monthly learning sessions has resulted in greater adoption than traditional one-time trainings.
“UDL is simply too broad to deliver in a one- or two-day training,” Eric explained. “We found more teachers implemented at least one UDL principle when we provided one hour of learning or coaching each month. It also gave teachers opportunities to ask for guidance as they tried new approaches to lesson planning.”
Looking Ahead
Morongo Unified’s journey demonstrates that lasting instructional change is built over time through collaboration, coaching, and continuous improvement.
By participating in the UDL Network, the district has strengthened its instructional systems while contributing to a statewide community of educators committed to expanding access and opportunity for every learner.
As districts across California continue to implement Universal Design for Learning, Morongo’s experience offers a simple but powerful reminder: meaningful change doesn’t happen through a single training, it happens through sustained partnership, shared learning, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
