The latest survey shows that 75% California teachers are satisfied with their jobs, 78% saw developing critical thinking as a priority, roughly 80% support the Common core standards, though nearly half of teachers had reservations (quite reasonably) about them, and almost all teachers consider themselves knowledgeable about what should be done for college and career readiness. That’s…
Month: September 2015
Thoughtful integration of special education students is the right thing to do
What we have done for special education students in Oakland has not been working. Look at the numbers, a mere 8.6% completed the A-G requirements, the courses required to apply to UC or CSU, 4.6% are reading on grade level in 9th grade, and the high school exit exam pass rate was 10.1%. It does…
Community Solutions for an Oakland Family; Housing, Schools and the Crisis for Oakland Families- Part 2- please help
Last week I covered the plight of a family at Community School for Creative Education Charter School. Harassed and menaced by their landlord in an effort to get them out of the unit. He allegedly tore up rent checks, forced his way into the unit, and slammed the door on the head of the family’s…
The Good the Bad and the The Ugly in the Oakland Achieves Report- How Are our Kids Doing?
No huge surprises in Urban Strategies Council’s annual report on the indicators of youth well-being and achievement in Oakland found here. Overall we are seeing some indicators of progress, while still tied down by huge achievement gaps and significant challenges in preparing our most challenged students for college and career readiness. The Good Chronic absences…
Housing, Schools, and the Crisis for Oakland Families
Life can be hard in Oakland, harder even, if you have children, live in the Flatlands and don’t own a home. One of our families is learning this lesson in spades. You can see the news report here. It ain’t pretty, new homeowner/landlord wants old tenants out—for no “good” reason but greed. This leads to…