How do you react when your child is called a “slave” during Black History month by the teacher?  Now imagine you are one of a few Black families in a mostly White and very upper income school.  And this is a school that professes “colorblindness”, which to most Black folks means that the school is…

The search for scapegoats in OUSD’s budget deficit is in full effect and is distracting from the search for solutions.  This was on full display at the recent OUSD Board meeting, where a lot of blame was laid with few real solutions offered. The deficit is the business manager’s fault, it’s the old Supe’s fault,…

Oakland Unified has been doing some powerful work in studying its own enrollment patterns and proposing policy changes to improve equity.  This work will expose deep inequities, likely question some privilege, and hopefully start an honest conversation about how we work together to create better and more equitable schools. The board will be hearing a…

When California changed the way it funds schools by adding extra funding specifically for high needs students, it was applauded as a means to reduce inequality.  But as we start to see the funding sift through districts and schools, many are wondering whether these funds are reaching the intended beneficiaries. I previously raised this issue…