The Oakland Education Week in Review: 1/7-1/14

All the Oakland Ed news fit to link, and all the public school open houses– this week, Latitude High earns a top prize, Oakland’s largest charter group recognizes a union, hear from Rudsdale grads, lots on the upcoming school closures and budget crisis in OUSD, racism in Alameda? (shocking), it’s school choice time and we look at the latest test scores, OUSD plans to support families in closing schools through the “opportunity ticket,” lots on the potential strike here, how Black churches can help schools, teacher diversity in CA schools, and much more, please read, share, and get involved

Oakland:

California:

Best of the Rest:

School Visits:

January 14th:

School Tour Of Bella Vista Elementary School! All Welcome!!

January 15th:

January 16th:

January 17th:

January 18th:

Oakland:

A Better Model for Schooling: How Latitude Is Breaking the Stale Habits of High School and Earning Rewards
- This is a break-the-mold school that has the potential to empower Oakland youth as well as model how we can change the high school game more systematically.
Will Charter Unionization Help End the Public School Wars in Oakland?
- Oakland’s largest charter organization, Education for Change (EFC), voted to recognize a union at the last board meeting.
Rudsdale Newcomer’s Second Class of Graduates Speak on What the Future Holds
- We talked to three seniors on the cusp of graduating from Rudsdale Newcomer Program as part of the school’s second ever graduating class. The school holds graduation twice yearly, allowing students who work to earn a high school degree as soon as they complete the number of credits required. Read on to see what’s on their minds!
Enroll OUSD by February 8
- One month! That’s how long Oakland families have left to learn about OUSD school options and find the best fit for their students. Our on-time enrollment window for the 2019-20 school year closes on Feb. 8, 2019.
2nd Annual Powerful Parent Conference
- The Powerful Parent Conference is a cultural container for Parents of Color to build community, share authentic experiences in our journey of parenting, and contribute tangible tools that can support healing families and protecting our youth from social toxins by surrounding them with love.
Oakland Unified scrambles to identify as many as 24 schools that could be closed in next 5 years
- Faced with a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall and a steadily falling student enrollment, Oakland Unified School District officials are scrambling to identify up to 24 schools that may have to be closed over the next five years
Alameda Racism, Charter School Politics, or Something Else?
- When the Alameda school board convenes for its first meeting of 2019 this week, it may once again be wracked with tension over allegations of racism. At its last meeting on Dec. 13, the board changed its bylaws in order to elect new school board member Mia Bonta as board president, bypassing African-American board member Ardella Dailey for the position even though, as vice president, Dailey was next in line for the post. The decision by the board majority drew outrage and raised serious questions about whether the board will be able to work cooperatively this year.
Oakland Public Middle Schools that Parents Should Consider Based on Growth-Looking at the Latest Test Scores
- Where you send your child to school is one of the most important decisions you can make. The new school quality data was released by the state recently, and I wanted to highlight some of the schools making progress with Oakland children, and encourage families to visit.
GO Board Watch: January 2019: Read on for 2 BIG THINGS about the OUSD Board Meeting
- Two big things on the agenda for this week’s Oakland School Board are:
  - OUSD Budget Cuts update – $17.3M to $30.2M in budget cuts for next year
  - The “Opportunity Ticket” – OUSD enrollment policy for students of closed schools
How OUSD’s Charles Wilson Plans to Integrate Oakland Public Schools
- The Oakland Unified School District’s executive director of enrollment, Charles Wilson, is backing a provocative new proposal that could begin to change the racial and economic makeup of Oakland’s public schools.
Thieves steal 40 Kindles from an Oakland third-grade classroom
- But thieves spoiled that return to school Monday, breaking into the Markham Elementary School classroom sometime over winter break and stealing all 40 of the devices as well as 25 headphones that went with them.
Distress expressed by Oakland children over possibility of school closures
- “If my school closed. I would be very sad because my school is like a second home to me,” said Breanna Swan, an Oakland third grader, who at one point broke into tears. “I feel empathy for the students who are going to get closed schools. Thank you.”
ARE OAKLAND TEACHERS NEXT?
- The struggle of Oakland teachers to win a just contract and improve conditions in the schools their students learn in is coming to a head.
The Relationship Between Black Churches & Black Education in Oakland
- I grew up in the Black church. It is where I gave my first public speech, wrote my first articles, and gained basic leadership skills. Families made decisions around education together there as well. For me, it was the center of my news I got. They help localities accountable and was my entrée into civic engagement. The Black church has always been a source of power for Black folks.
Fremont, Oakland Teachers Rally in Solidarity With Los Angeles ‘Red for Ed’ Walkout
- Teachers in across the Bay Area joined a state-wide educators rally Friday in solidarity with at least 35,000 Los Angeles teachers who are in a contract dispute with the district.
Oakland School District Officials Grapple With Budget Shortfall, Declining Enrollment
- Oakland Unified School District is looking at consolidating, reconfiguring or even closing some schools. The district says they have to make some tough decisions to bridge budget deficits in the coming years.
PHOTOS: Hundreds Rally in Oakland Over School Funding, Closures and Pending Strikes
- Hundreds of educators, parents and labor organizers filled Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on Saturday to rally on a number of issues including increased funding in public education, improved teacher contracts and the expected closure of up to two dozen schools in the Oakland Unified School District.
Oaklanders Step Up to Create Educational Opportunity
- With gentrification making it increasingly harder to thrive in their hometown, many Oakland youth, in particular, are struggling to see a path to the future. Thousands of Oaklanders have stepped up to level the playing field for Oakland’s young people.