All the Oakland education news and beyond that’s fit to share– last week- looking at the OUSD food program, the kickoff event for the State of Black Education Oakland with Paul Cobb, upcoming event with the NAACP and Richard Rothstein, a student reflection teacher quality, the abysmal numbers for both charters and district schools for Black achievement, a new parcel tax from the City, chronic absence at continuation schools, segregation and opportunity, helping an Oakland family struck by the worst tragedy, all that and much more below with links– please read, share, and get involved
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OAKLAND
In Oakland, rethinking school lunches starts with rethinking school kitchens
State of Black Education in Oakland Kicks Off at Kingston 11
My Experience with Poor Teacher Quality has Impacted my Learning-a student perspective
Black Gods Matter: a Reintroduction to African Spirituality
Oakland Public Schools Adopt ‘Good Food Purchasing Policy’ | Hoodline
Oakland NAACP Hosts Phenomenal Women Awards – Oakland Post
Oakland mayor proposes parcel tax to boost education funding
Woman says Oakland charter school failed to protect her daughter from rape by another student
Why “Chop from the Top” Won’t Save Us-The Too Many Schools Problem – Great School Voices
CALIFORNIA
California districts to take part in groundbreaking school safety study –
Congratulations to the 2018 California Distinguished Schools!
California AG issues guidelines to protect undocumented students from ICE
Chronic absence rates high at many California continuation schools
California education should be better than last
Opinion: California still lacks school-spending transparency
BEST OF THE REST
Government Watchdog Finds Racial Bias in School Discipline
The Other Integration; A Model that Works – Great School Voices
Kids from poorest neighborhoods left out of city’s elite schools
Kids Miss College Because Their Parents Won’t Apply for Financial Aid
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Click here to support Funeral costs for Jeremiah Joyner organized by Robert Joyner
OAKLAND
In Oakland, rethinking school lunches starts with rethinking school kitchens – Already ahead of the curve in many ways, OUSD is building a state-of-the-art central kitchen to allow schools to serve fresher, better and more sustainable food.
The Past, Present, and Future of Activism for Black Families in Oakland; A Conversation with the NAACP – The Oakland NAACP has been a critical ally for Black families. We are hosting an intergenerational conversation focused on setting a historical frame for Educational Activism in Oakland.
My Experience with Poor Teacher Quality has Impacted my Learning – In most public schools today there are many problems such as low funding, overcrowded classrooms, and students not being able to read at their expected grade level. However, the topic I think about most is teacher quality.
State of Black Education in Oakland Kicks Off at Kingston 11 – Community organizers, parents and educators convened last week at Oakland’s Kingston 11 Jamaican Restaurant to take part in a kickoff for the State of Black Education Oakland (SBEO).
Black Gods Matter: a Reintroduction to African Spirituality – Our ancestors were not devil worshippers. Allow African spirituality to reintroduce itself. Join the Oakland Ifa Orisa community for an introduction to Yoruba Ifa Orisa worship and African spiritual technology. For us by us. Wakanda style!
This night of family fun is featuring world renowned Yoruba chief priest Babalawo Araba Awodiran Agboola, of Oworinsoki Kingdom Lagos, 🇳🇬 Nigeria.
Two Numbers that Explain Why Oakland’s Black families Aren’t Caught up in the Public School Wars – Great School Voices – Fifteen percent and fourteen percent. If you wonder why you largely don’t see Black parents engaged in the vitriolic debate over charters in Oakland—those numbers are the answer. 15% of Black elementary schoolers at charters schools can read at grade level. 14% of Black elementary school students can read at grade level.
Author Talk with Richard Rothstein, electeds, and activists; The Color of Law, Segregation, State Action and the Geography of Opportunity in West Oakland – NY Times bestselling author, Richard Rothstein, will discuss his recent book, The Color of Law, and the role of the state in creating and maintaining segregation, to the detriment of African Americans and society as a whole.
Oakland Public Schools Adopt ‘Good Food Purchasing Policy’ | Hoodline – City schools are redefining cafeteria food as locally-sourced, farm-to-table cuisine that’s nutritious and delicious.
Oakland NAACP Hosts Phenomenal Women Awards – Oakland Post – NAACP celebrates phenomenal women of the community at the African American Museum and Library of Oakland.
Oakland mayor proposes parcel tax to boost education funding – The $198 parcel tax is intended to generate money for a program to increase college graduates, as well as parents’ access to high-quality preschools.
Why “Chop from the Top” Won’t Save Us-The Too Many Schools Problem – Great School Voices – OUSD’s continuing budget crisis means there will be annual cuts until some major restructuring takes place.
Woman says Oakland charter school failed to protect her daughter from rape by another student – An Alameda County mother who says an Oakland high school student raped her sixth-grade daughter and sexually abused the girl over several months under the noses of staff and administrators has sued the public charter school the children attended.
CALIFORNIA
California districts to take part in groundbreaking school safety study – Researchers will spend five years studying California schools in order to get a better picture of how they can become places where people feel safer and more connected.
Congratulations to the 2018 California Distinguished Schools! This award recognizes California elementary schools that have made exceptional gains in implementing academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
California AG issues guidelines to protect undocumented students from ICE – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Friday issued guidelines for public schools to protect undocumented immigrants on campus from ICE.
Chronic absence rates high at many California continuation schools – Continuation schools can be a last chance for a diploma, but state data shows many struggle to get students to attend each day.
California education should be better than last – I love living in California. Much of the rest of the U.S. envies our lifestyle and weather — especially after the recent nor’easters that have piled snow on the East Coast.
Opinion: California still lacks school-spending transparency – Is money for low-income students, English learners and foster youth reaching their schools?
BEST OF THE REST
School Segregation Is No Accident and This Professor Says It’s Because of Our Racist Housing Policies – Great School Voices – (A cross post from Peter Cunningham, the executive director of Education Post. He served as assistant secretary for communications and outreach in the U.S. Department of Education during the Obama Administration. Prior to that he led communications for Chicago Public Schools.
No Excuses for Excuses Testing for Excellence Charter School to Open Nationwide Tomorrow – Great School Voices – The No Excuses for Excuses Testing for Excellence Charter School or NEFETFECS as it is affectionately known will open its first virtual doors tomorrow to 100 million students, ending public education as we know it. The school, a collaboration between philanthrocapitalists, IQ testing proponents, and former Enron employees promises to “relentlessly test students and families until all remaining students pass the tests.”
Government Watchdog Finds Racial Bias in School Discipline – The Government Accountability Office found that black students still bear the brunt of school discipline, undermining Trump administration efforts to re-examine discipline policies of the Obama administration.
The Other Integration; A Model that Works – Great School Voices – There is a mocked and sometimes despised subgroup that historically went to separate schools with the worst conditions. And even when included in the same schools now, they are separated from their peers, given substandard services, subjected to abysmally low expectations and usually live down to them. This group’s performance is among the lowest and they boast a 50% dropout rate. However despite stereotypes and prejudice, many do more than survive they thrive, usually in spite of the system.
Kids from poorest neighborhoods left out of city’s elite schools – A Daily News investigation showed just 17 of about 32,550 students from Bronx District 9 landed seats in prestigious public schools in 2018.
Kids Miss College Because Their Parents Won’t Apply for Financial Aid – The FAFSA requires information on immigration status, finances and use of public benefits. That data isn’t shared with immigration authorities — but a lot of parents fear it will cause a problem.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Click here to support Funeral costs for Jeremiah Joyner organized by Robert Joyner – On March 22 we lost our beloved Jeremiah Joyner, known to friends as “Bubba” who suddenly fell ill that evening and passed away later that night.