The Oakland Education Week in Review | 10/7-10/14

All the Oakland education news that is fit to link– this week–please join us for our release of the SoBEO policy recommendations on 10/20 at Geoffrey’s, plus a look at community organizing in Oakland schools, more on the Bailout bill, lots of great events coming up around the elections and education more generally, a student describes his journey, a look at an Oakland shero–Ms. Oral Lee Brown, lots of ways you can help students and families, a new book looks at grading and inequity, education is the top priority for parents of color according to the latest polling, all that and much more please read, share, and get involved

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  • Can Community Organizing Improve Schools?
    • Few would dispute that federal and state education policy generally lacks input from rank and file teachers and parents. That reality, to a large extent, motivated teachers earlier this year to stage mass school walkouts with the support of parents and community members.
  • The State of Black Education in Oakland and What We Can Do
    • By most measures Black students are being left behind…That is why the State of Black Education in Oakland (SoBEO) started meeting with and listening to families, students and educators almost a year ago.  We wanted to build community, dialogue together, research solutions, and ultimately move for action. This led to four concrete policy proposals that will make things better for Black families in Oakland now.
  • Questions and Answers on the OUSD Bailout Bill
    • The State recently passed a “bailout” bill for OUSD that would ease the coming fiscal crisis.  Here Nima Tahai, GO’s director of educator leadership, breaks down the bill and the implications for Oakland.
  • OUSD leadership Meeting with State Legislative Representatives Senator Nancy

Skinner and Assembly Members Rob Bonta and Tony Thurmond

    • Today OUSD leadership gathered with State Legislative Representatives Senator Nancy Skinner and Assembly Members Rob Bonta and Tony Thurmond to announce unprecedented legislation that will provide financial relief to the District for the next three years provided the District meets benchmarks set forth by the State.
  • Education Assembly: What is the Real Promise to Oakland’s Youth?
    • What is the Real Promise to Oakland’s Youth? On Sunday, October 14th from 1-4pm, Cat Brooks will be participating in a People’s Assembly on Education with Oakland youth, parents, teachers and any interested community members.
  • One woman’s promise to send Oakland children to college for the past 30 years
    • It’s been 31 years since Oral Lee Brown introduced herself to a group of first graders at Brookfield Elementary School and made a promise to those children and their families.
  • School-Life Navigation: Surviving the Tracking and Inequality–A Student’s Journey
    • For students of color, school can be a pathless land. A land covered with a very thin layer of ice that breaks and swallows you when you make a wrong step. Being the only one in my family that can take my education to the next level, I’ve felt like a lone wanderer.
  • The Black Paper | State of Black Education
    • Our State of Black Education in Oakland (SoBEO) series has engaged hundreds of community members around the needs of families, children and educators, and how we move the needle on equity. This event will review our research and produce findings, bring our partners back together to reflect on our learnings, and build momentum towards a set of community developed policy proposals for decision makers, our Black Paper.
  • Oakland Organic Gardener Wins Battle Against Roundup
    • Diane Williams fought for two years to stop Oakland Unified from spraying the likely carcinogenic herbicide. And, finally, she was vindicated.
  • Teachers of Oakland: LIVE
    • Maybe you’ve been following Teachers of Oakland on Facebook or Instagram. Maybe you know how incredible teachers are. Maybe you’re looking to get to know your community a little better. Maybe you’re just looking for a joyful, engaging couple of hours with great people. No matter what brings you here – we’re glad to have you. Join us for a couple of hours on the 27th
  • 16th Annual Oakland Black College Expo
    • Join us for our 16th Annual Black College Expo Saturday February 9th at our NEW LOCATION Oracle Arena. Seniors and Juniors and College Transfer Students meet one on one with top HBCUs and a variety of other colleges and universities and get answers right on the spot.
  • “Telling Our Stories” Book Launch Party #2
    • Healthy Black Families, Inc. is thrilled to invite you to the “Telling Our Stories” Book Launch Party #2 on October 19, 2018…After a six-week writing circle of cohort 2 and 3, we wil be presenting to you the final product: two published books, entitled, What We Carry: Stories Black Women Never Tell Volumes 2 and 3 These books are a rich compilation of authentic and diverse narratives from the lives of powerful Black women.
  • Honoring Diversity: Latino Heritage and Culture Celebrated Throughout OUSD
    • In September, our Office of Latino Student Achievement (LSA) collaborated with the Board of Education and the Latino Education Network to declare September 15 through October 15 as our annual Latino Heritage Month in OUSD.
  • Principal’s Perspective: Major Change Is Underway at Futures and Community United Elementary Schools
    • Major transitions are coming at several schools in OUSD as part of the Blueprint for Quality Schools process. The co-located Community United and Futures elementary schools are on the way to merging into one school. It won’t happen for several years, but already the same principal, Shelley McCray, is overseeing both campuses. This is a Q&A Feature with Ms. McCray about what’s happening at the schools, and how it’s already benefiting students.
  • I Bet on East Oakland–Why I am Running a Write in Campaign for the School Board in District 6—By Anthony Wilson
    • When I decided to run for Oakland School Board in District 6, it was precisely for the reasons why others would not: the district is in financial crisis, teachers are unhappy, adults are divided along district-charter lines, and inequity against children is high. It kept me up at night: the condition of our Oakland schools and what was being done to prepare our children for their self-determined futures.
  • America to Me Screening
    • Join us at a special Oakland screening of America To Me as part of Participant Media and STARZ’s national Real Talk campaign!
  • Taking Action to Improve the State of Black Education in Oakland-Demand 1—Break the Chains Between Segregated Neighborhoods and Quality School Access
    • Today we are talking about the opportunity ticket, how we give access to the best schools to the families that most need them.  And if you want to hear more about it from the families behind the idea, the Oakland REACH, please join us for our Celebratory event 10/20 at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle from 2-5, tickets are limited.
  • The Oakland Reach
    • Live video from Oakland Reach Event
  • East Oakland elementary school opens a laundry service for students
    • As it turns out, the major reason for the absence of many students is precisely the want of a clean uniform, and that is what Dana Turner [the office manager and attendance specialist at EnCompass] is figuring out how to solve. “In our community, a lot of families can’t afford to wash clothes, or don’t want to ask for assistance because they don’t want to be looked down upon,” Turner said.

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  • School Grading Policies are Failing Children: A Call to Action for Equitable Grading
    • Schools, colleges, and employers use grades to determine many important, and in some cases, life-altering decisions—college admission, financial aid and scholarships, athletic eligibility, promotion, retention, awards, and supports. But the grades that teachers assign to students—ostensibly an objective, fair, and accurate reflection of a student’s academic performance—are anything but. In the vast majority of schools around the country, educators are using practices that are outdated, inaccurate, and undermine student success. In fact, grading policies actually help fuel achievement gaps, reinforcing the differences in family resources and support based on students’ race and income.

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