All the news that is fit to link– a message from the Supe, contract issues in OUSD amidst financial challenges, a Muslim student describes his experience, anti semitism in Albany, neighborhood meetings, a look at integration in Oakland, gentrification and displacement, all that and lots lots more please read share and get involved.
Oakland:
- Connecting with Kyla: November 21
- Teachers and School District Face Off as Contract Showdown Looms
- Oakland Superintendent of Schools Looks at Coming Challenges
- Oakland teachers, without a contract for more than a year, threaten to strike
- How It Feels to Be a Muslim Student in Oakland
- EONI: Coliseum/Rudsdale/Havenscort/Lockwood Neighborhood Meeting
- Eight Cities: Oakland, California
- Oakland Unified Moves Forward on Plan to Close up to 24 Schools
- Facing anti-Semitism at her California school, this Jewish teen takes matters into her own hands
- Rev. Jesse Jackson is at Oakland High School
- Displacing Black People and Culture, Gentrification: The New “Negro Removal” Program
- OUSD Informs Families of Possible Challenges They Could Face Because of Public Charge Rule Change Proposed by Trump Administration
- Girls, Their Families To Gather At Annual Black Girl Power Conference
- ELLMA: Connecting and Sharing in December
California:
- Tony Thurmond names second in command at California Department of Education
- New report sounds the alarm in California: Only 1 in 8 Latinos has a four-year college degree — and Newsom and state legislators need to act now to boost college graduates by 2030
- California school districts to get ‘wake-up call’ with new absenteeism measures
Best of the Rest:
- How White &/or Privileged Families Interact with School Integration
- Time to Recognize That the Black Education Movement Is Growing and Isn’t Going Anywhere
- Funding Gap Increases Between Traditional Public and Charter Schools
School Visits/Events:
How You Can Help:
Oakland:
- Connecting with Kyla: November 21
- As we all enjoy our holiday break – and finally, a break from the smoky air in our city – I reach out to wish students, families, staff, and all OUSD supporters a joyous holiday filled with relaxation, family, friends and love.
- Teachers and School District Face Off as Contract Showdown Looms
- Teachers picketed at most Oakland public schools on November 15 after months of bargaining and six sessions with an outside mediator failed to break the deadlock in negotiations between the Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland Education Association (OEA).
- Oakland Superintendent of Schools Looks at Coming Challenges
- The school board’s Community of Schools Policy calls on us to reimagine our school system to ensure a quality school for all Oakland students. At last week’s board meeting, staff presented an update on the Community of Schools Policy and the Citywide Map.
- Oakland teachers, without a contract for more than a year, threaten to strike
- Oakland public school teachers have been working without a contract since July 2017. Negotiations on a new contract have gone on so long that teachers have threatened a citywide strike.
- How It Feels to Be a Muslim Student in Oakland
- I can hardly survive identifying as a Muslim in society. But I’m slowly learning how to reconcile my identity as I grow older.
- EONI: Coliseum/Rudsdale/Havenscort/Lockwood Neighborhood Meeting
- Are you a resident of the Coliseum, Rudsdale, Havenscourt or Lockwood neighborhoods? Join East Oakland Neighborhoods Initiative (EONI) for a series of meetings in your neighborhood aimed at facilitating community feedback on projects and generating new ideas. Facilitated by resident-leaders.
- Eight Cities: Oakland, California
- In 1999, Emma Paulino sent her youngest child to Manzanita Elementary School in Oakland, California. Paulino, an immigrant from Guadalajara, Mexico, was excited to finally interact with the American public education system, but what she saw left her frightened and disheartened.
- Oakland Unified Moves Forward on Plan to Close up to 24 Schools
- The Oakland Unified School District’s Board of Education is moving ahead with a “Community of Schools Policy” that will mean closing as many as 24 schools over the next several years, arguing that these closures are the best way to improve the quality and equity of schools across the district.
- Facing anti-Semitism at her California school, this Jewish teen takes matters into her own hands
- Weinstein and her classmate Melia Oliver decided to take action not long after they first encountered the problem. They and some friends created SPEAK, a program designed to encourage young people to identify and fight bigotry.
- Rev. Jesse Jackson is at Oakland High School
- Rev. Jesse Jackson is at Oakland High School – Oakland, CA – Memorial Page this morning to talk with the leadership class and a larger student assembly about the importance of civic engagement, voting, staying in school and studying hard. He’ll even register some students to vote in the next election.
- Displacing Black People and Culture, Gentrification: The New “Negro Removal” Program
- Gentrification has emerged as a major threat to Black communities that have been centers for Black business/economic development, cultural and civic life for generations. Gentrification has become the watch-word for the displacement of Black people and culture. Gentrification is the “Negro Removal Program” of the 21st Century. There is an urgent need for people of African descent to mount a serious offensive to defend Black communities from this insidious onslaught.
- OUSD Informs Families of Possible Challenges They Could Face Because of Public Charge Rule Change Proposed by Trump Administration
- At a time when immigrants are increasingly feeling threatened by the U.S. government, now comes word that the Trump administration wants to make becoming permanent residents or citizens harder for even more people. OUSD families and people across Oakland and the Bay Area need to know the details of this plan, that there is time for them to work to stop the change, and what to know if the rule change takes effect.
- Girls, Their Families To Gather At Annual Black Girl Power Conference
- At a time when immigrants are increasingly feeling threatened by the U.S. government, now comes word that the Trump administration wants to make becoming permanent residents or citizens harder for even more people. OUSD families and people across Oakland and the Bay Area need to know the details of this plan, that there is time for them to work to stop the change, and what to know if the rule change takes effect.
- ELLMA: Connecting and Sharing in December
- Accelerating outcomes for our Long Term English Learners is a major priority for us. These students, who have been ELLs for six or more years, are often stuck in their language and literacy development, which can be disheartening and lead to disengagement.
California:
- Tony Thurmond names second in command at California Department of Education
- Tony Thurmond has named a veteran California education administrator as his chief deputy superintendent in his first act as state superintendent-elect of public instruction.
- New report sounds the alarm in California: Only 1 in 8 Latinos has a four-year college degree — and Newsom and state legislators need to act now to boost college graduates by 2030
- The authors of a new report are calling on California’s newly elected governor, Gavin Newsom, and state legislators to do more to ensure Latinos graduate from college.
- California school districts to get ‘wake-up call’ with new absenteeism measures
- At least 40 percent of California school districts and charter schools have rates of chronic absence in grades K-8 that are high or very high based on new performance measures that will be unveiled next month as part of the state’s updated school accountability system, known as the California School Dashboard.
Best of the Rest:
- How White &/or Privileged Families Interact with School Integration
- This a map of how white/privileged families interact with school segregation and integrating schools.
- Time to Recognize That the Black Education Movement Is Growing and Isn’t Going Anywhere
- It’s built on the shoulders of the Black-led movements that preceded it, and it’s guided by the wisdom of education reform legends. But this movement is also being led by a younger generation of parents, educators and community members.
- Funding Gap Increases Between Traditional Public and Charter Schools
- The average disparity in per-pupil funding between traditional public schools and their public charter school counterparts in major cities, including Little Rock and Tulsa, reached $5,828, a slight increase over the last two years, according to a report issued today by a team of researchers at the University of Arkansas. Funding from local sources is the chief culprit for this disparity, representing a funding gap that favors traditional public schools by an average $7,958 per pupil.
School Visits/Events:
- Tenth Annual Ready to Learn Fun Fair
- Free event for families with children aged 0-5 featuring books, face-painting, educational and parenting resources, and games.
- Why Go To College Forum
- The Why Go To College Forum (WGTC) is an opportunity for Middle School, High School, and Community College Students to receive everything they need to know to make the right decisions when planning to attend a four-year college.
- Social Justice Children’s Book Holiday Fair
- Bring your kids. Meet your favorite authors. Enjoy performances and kids activities. Get your holiday shopping done. All in one place!
- Spotlight: Dual Language Learning
- Do you want your child to become fluent in another language? OUSD is committed to building a PreK-12th grade multilingual pathway and providing dual language learning opportunities for our students.
- Calendar of School Visits
- Includes times, locations, and contact information about many events to visit local Oakland schools
How You Can Help:
- Join the #GivingTuesday Movement
- #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving. Its celebrated each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.). #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Taking part is simple! You can give in many ways, whether it’s some of your time, a donation, gift or the power of your voice in our local community. Whether you come together with your family, your community, your company, or your organization, find a way to give back.
What do you think?