The Oakland Education Week in Review

Oct 28, 2024 – Nov 03, 2024

It’s time for the Oakland Ed Week in Review!  

We’re back with our roundup of education news from around The Town, the Bay Area, state, and nation for your weekend reading. This is a Dirk favorite and one of the last blogs he published for Great School Voices.  

Here’s what’s been going on: 

Here in Oakland |  Oakland’s education landscape is evolving with increased student and community involvement and new efforts to support educational equity. For the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds will vote in school board elections, marking a milestone in youth engagement, while noncitizen parents are still awaiting the implementation of a 2022 measure granting them voting rights in these elections. Amid declining political spending in school board races, the Oakland Education Association leads as a significant supporter, creating a more community-centered election. The Oakland Unified School District faces a $95 million deficit, with potential school closures on the table and decisions expected in December. In other news, Yemeni students have created a documentary sharing their experiences as part of the Arab Film Fest, and a new scholarship program aims to support college-bound students who face economic challenges. School board candidates are prioritizing Black education, with a focus on closing literacy gaps and ensuring equitable resources for Black and Brown students.

In the Greater Bay Area | Across the Bay Area, school districts are grappling with budget challenges that threaten the stability of essential school programs and services. In San Francisco, SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su is working to address a $113 million deficit without immediate school closures, though significant budget cuts may impact staffing and resources. Similarly, East San Jose’s Alum Rock Union School District faces a potential $20 million shortfall, considering closures for nearly half of its schools to consolidate resources and preserve vital programs. In other local news, Cal State East Bay has partnered with two local districts for guaranteed admission of qualified students, and Berkley schools have begun bond-funded construction projects. Meanwhile, a new measure aims to support teacher housing through school bonds in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Throughout the State of California |  California is seeing intensified efforts to engage students and communities in civic life, with teachers navigating politically charged classroom discussions on the 2024 election while encouraging respectful, fact-based discourse. Meanwhile, a $30 million “California Thriving Youth Initiative” seeks to boost student civic engagement, especially for students of color, providing opportunities to influence their communities on critical issues. School board elections across the state have grown contentious, with unions and conservative groups supporting ideologically aligned candidates, particularly in debates over curriculum and parental rights. In other developments, new legislation aims to protect students from extreme weather, improve translation for special education documents, and address funding for religious school placements, while LAUSD is seeking a $9 billion bond for school upgrades.

Across the Nation |  A new study underscores the reading challenges facing older students who struggle with complex vocabulary, revealing gaps that hinder comprehension across subjects; experts urge increased support and expanded reading screenings in middle and high schools. As 2024 approaches, public opinion surveys show Americans want K–12 education to focus on core academic skills and student safety, with parents supporting teacher retention and quality curriculum over polarizing issues. In political news, Donald Trump’s proposed deportation plan could have devastating impacts on schools, as family separations would force educators to provide emergency support for students affected by immigration enforcement. Additionally, a report highlights that culture wars over race, gender, and sexuality cost schools an estimated $3.2 billion last year, diverting funds from student services and impacting educators. Efforts by the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers’ PACs are ramping up for the 2024 election, with millions raised to support education-friendly candidates. Furthermore, new reports explore the rising costs of pensions, school district spending of COVID relief funds, and increased Gen Z interest in skilled trades as a viable career path.

City & State Roundup |  In New Orleans, schools face a sudden $20 million funding shortfall due to tax miscalculations, while in Houston, a $1 million teacher certification scandal involving 400 unqualified educators has rocked the district, and some teachers may face repercussions nationwide. Florida continues to lead the nation in book bans, and a controversial school board appointment by Governor DeSantis is sparking local debate. Massachusetts is considering eliminating its high school graduation exam, which critics say could dilute standards, and in Newark, a new partnership aims to increase college access for students. In Colorado, Governor Polis’ new budget proposes funding schools based on current-year enrollment, impacting districts with declining numbers, while Chicago faces calls for a CPS overhaul amid increased spending and academic struggles. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s school turnaround efforts show limited long-term impact on student achievement, fueling discussions on the effectiveness of intervention strategies.

In the Classroom |  A new study reveals that many older students struggle with basic reading skills like decoding, limiting their comprehension and progress across subjects and prompting calls for increased resources and training for middle and high school teachers. As AI becomes more prevalent in classrooms, educators are exploring its benefits for learning support while navigating ethical concerns around cheating, underscoring the need for responsible guidance. Persistent teacher shortages across the U.S. continue despite decades of attempted solutions, with experts advocating for flexible, multi-pronged approaches as immediate, short-term fixes alongside efforts to professionalize teaching. In other news, a majority of teachers support restricting cell phone use in class due to distractions, St. Louis schools receive a $1 million grant for literacy improvements, and educators focus on teaching students critical thinking to combat misinformation in the digital age.

What did we miss?  Hit us up in the comments below: 

OAKLAND

In Other Oakland News:

• Arab students tell their story with help from an Oakland film program By Tony Daquipa | The Oaklandside |  Yemeni youth made a doc about their experience amid tumult at OUSD over violence in Israel and Gaza. It screens tonight at the New Parkway as part of the Arab Film Fest.
• Many Oakland Students Don’t Go to College. This New Scholarship Gives Some a Chance By Katie DeBenedetti | KQED |  
• OUSD Supports and Appreciates All of our Students, Families, and Staff, and We Celebrate our Beloved Newcomer Population By OUSD NEwsroom |  “OUSD remains a sanctuary district, inside a sanctuary city, inside a sanctuary state, which means we support everyone in our community regardless of where they came from or how they got here.” – OUSD Statement

THE BAY AREA

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

• In related news & coverage
  • California parents’ rights activists say movement is growing, despite political setbacks By Jenavieve Hatch | Sacramento Bee |  Key players in California’s parents’ rights movement tell a story of grassroots underdogs chipping away at the supposed proliferation of gender transition among minors.

County & City Roundup:

• Inland Empire schools propose $3.6 billion in bonds By Deborah Brennan | Cal Matters |  In addition to voting on $10 billion in state school bonds, Inland Empire residents will consider bonds for 22 school districts.
• Meet Rocklin school board candidates running to focus on education, not ‘political points’ By José Luis Villegas | Sacramento Bee |  Two candidates for Rocklin Unified School District school board, running with the support from the teacher’s association and in opposition to the district’s parental notification policy, canvas city neighborhoods with supporters.
• Thousands of LA students experience homelessness; we must act urgently to help them By Debra Duardo and Miguel Santana | Ed Source |  Measure A would develop stronger collaborations between school districts, housing agencies and nonprofits to offer services for families and make it easier for families to self-identify without stigma.
• Ruling revives lawsuit to allow state funding for special education to go to religious schools By Hannah Fry | Los Angeles Times | A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel revived a lawsuit this week filed by Orthodox Jewish families that sued California education officials over the state’s policy of refusing to fund special education programs at religious schools.
• Banned rainbows and ‘forced outing.’ Will elections reshape this relentless school board? By Jaweed Kaleem | Los Angeles Times | At Chino Valley USD, while teachers and students have faced challenges with infrastructure, such as broken air conditioners and outdated technology, recent tensions have also centered around the district’s ban on LGBTQ+ “safe space” symbols, parental notification policies, and the banning of certain books like The Bluest Eye.
• Flouting IRS rules, Carlsbad church gave $1,900 to school board candidates, and urged worshipers to as well By Kristen Taketa | The San Diego Union-Tribune |  The pastor of The Mission Church also urged his congregation to vote for and financially support the two candidates during a sermon
• LA Unified Seeks Voters’ Support for $9 Billion School Bond By Ben Chapman | LA School Report | LAUSD  is seeking voters’ approval for a $9 billion bond measure to repair and upgrade its aging school buildings.

ACROSS THE NATION

In other National News…

• Culture Wars Cost Schools Estimated $3.2B Last Year, Harming Student ServicesBy Amanda Geduld | The74 |  New research says divisive debates over race, gender and sexual orientation have diverted billions of dollars and driven educators from their jobs.
  • In related news & coverage
    • Schools Take a $3 Billion Hit From the Culture Wars. Here’s How It Breaks Down By Caitlynn Peetz | Ed Week | Tense conflict over issues like how districts teach about race, their policies related to LGBTQ+ students, and the books they keep in libraries.  But not all schools fared equally.
    • Moms for Liberty: Estimated $2 billion price tag for school conflict is ‘nonsense’ By Brendan Clarey | Chalkboard News | Superintendents, researchers say schools can save district funds by silencing ‘conflict entrepreneurs’
• The ‘Zero-Sum Game’ of School Budgets and Teacher Pensions By Mark Lieberman | Ed Week |  Pensions are a rising cost for school districts, but administrators have little control over them—and many don’t know how they work 
• National Education Association PAC Raised Roughly $27 Million for 2024 Election By Lauren Camera | The74 |  The country’s largest union traditionally supports Democratic candidates, lending the power of its political action committees’ purses.
• American Federation of Teachers’ PAC Raised $12 Million for the 2024 Election By Lauren Camera | The74 | The 1.7-million member teachers union has raised $12 million through its PAC and has thrown its support behind Democrats up and down the ballot.
• PARENT VOICE | Why bringing children to the voting booth matters By Amira K.S. Barger | Ed Source |  By involving children, parents create opportunities for dialogue on community issues, which can even influence adult perspectives—a phenomenon known as “trickle-up socialization.”
• Students Don’t Want to Talk About Politics, Either By Brooke Schultz | Ed Week |  Young people are reluctant to discuss politics without a space to safely navigate those discussions in such a polarized environment.
• GAO: Here’s how schools spent COVID money during pandemic years By Julian Roberts-Grmela | Chalkboard News  |  According to a new Government Accountability Office report, districts nationwide spent about $60 billion in federal COVID-19-related emergency relief funds by the end of the 2022 school year. 
• How Is Title II, Part A Funding Professional Development in Schools? By Adam Stone | Ed Tech Magazine |  The Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program can improve technology integration and student outcomes in K–12 schools. Learn more about this component of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
• Running for School Board? Better Win Over the Teachers’ Union, Research Finds By Kevin Mahnken | The74 |  National survey evidence shows that potential voters are significantly more likely to favor a candidate backed by local teachers.
• Native American Leaders Call Again for Action After Boarding Schools Apology By Marianna McMurdock | The74 | While the apology was a “critical first step,” these policies “are not a horror of the past.” Advocates push for legislation, education investments
• FAFSA rollout is ‘on track,’ despite remaining unresolved issues, Education Department says By Jessica Dickler | CNBC |  So far, the 2025-26 FAFSA has been available to limited groups of students in a series of beta tests that began on Oct. 1.  It will become available to all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1, the Education Department said. 
• ‘Inspiring and eye-opening’: Gen Z’s interest in skilled trades is rising By Tate Miller | The Center Square |  “55% of Gen Zers are considering a skilled trade career (up 12% from last year) – including 72% of those with a college degree,” Thumbtack’s report stated.

CITY & STATE ROUNDUP

• October Surprise: NOLA Schools Learn They’ll Lose at Least $20M in Funding By Beth Hawkins | The74 |  New Orleans district leaders miscalculated local tax revenues — and didn’t alert schools until 3 months into the academic year.
• Houston ISD scandal: up to 400 unqualified teachers involved in $1M cheating scheme By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square |  Scandal has unfolded in Texas’ largest public school district: a $1 million teacher certification cheating scheme through which up to 400 individuals paid a proxy to take their teacher certification test on their behalf.
  • In related coverage:
    • Houston certification fraud charges could affect teachers in other states By Brendan Clarey | Chalkboard News |  After charges were announced against administrators and test proctors allegedly involved in a fraudulent teacher certification scheme, state agencies said they would follow law enforcement’s lead to ensure teachers are properly licensed. 
• Bipartisan groups oppose Houston ISD bond propositions totaling nearly $11 billion By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square via Chalkboard News |  Houston ISD has proposed Proposition A and Proposition B on the Nov. 5 ballot, arguing that increasing debt and taxes by nearly $11 billion over 33 years is necessary to build and renovate school buildings, implement security upgrades and make other improvements.
• A Florida school board candidate lost his race. DeSantis appointed him to the board anyway By Kate Payne | Associate Press |  Derek Barrs will take an open seat on the Flagler County School Board in northeast Florida, succeeding a member who resigned in September, allowing DeSantis to appoint a replacement rather than the seat going on the ballot for voters to decide.
• Florida again leads U.S. in book bans, new report finds By Steven Walker | Orlando Sentinel |  There were 4,561 instances of book banning in Florida public school districts last school year — accounting for about 45% of all book bans nationally, according to a report.
• Could Massachusetts AI Cheating Case Push Schools to Refocus on Learning? By Greg Toppo | The74 |  Lawsuit tackles key questions of academic integrity, college admissions and the purpose of school in an age of AI.
• Massachusetts, Famed for Tough School Standards, Rethinks Its Big Test By Troy Closson | New York Times |  A ballot measure would do away with the requirement that high schoolers pass a test to graduate. Opponents say it could water down academics for struggling students.
• Another School District Stumbles After Cyberattack By The 74 | There has been a massive breach in Rhode Island’s school district. 
• Newark Public Schools partners with NJ LEEP to launch new program to help students get to college By Jessie Gómez |  Chalkbeat |  Through a partnership with Newark Public Schools and a grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Foundation, the nonprofit will launch a school-based program next year at Central and East Side high schools to expand students’ access to college opportunities and support high school students
• Rural South Carolina School District Regains Some Control Six Years After State Takeover By Skylar Laird | South Carolina Gazette | The lessons learned from Williamsburg County schools could help other rural districts, one legislator said
• In North Carolina, Public Education Is at the Heart of Governor’s Race By Marianna McMurdock | The74 |  Election day exposed key education issues in the swing state: school funding, teacher pay & vouchers. Why students, educators are anxious but hopeful
• How much does your school district spend on special education per student?  By Grace Deng | Washington State Standard | There are big differences between districts — but more spending doesn’t correlate to better outcomes for students.
• What Happened When Chicago’s Mayor Followed a Teachers’ Union Playbook By Dana Goldstein | New York Times | In Chicago, the mayor and the teachers’ union are tightly connected. The relationship has ushered in generous spending and led to political turmoil.
• Analyst calls for overhaul of Chicago Public Schools By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square |  Instructional and operational spending per CPSl student spiked to an average of nearly $20,000 in fiscal year 2022, representing a jump of almost 50% over the past six years.  Critics argue the time has come for a complete overhaul after data also shows academic performance slowed to the point where less than one out of every four 11th graders were achieving or exceeding proficiency in reading and math.
• Chicago Public Schools to resume providing rides for general education students in December By Mila Koumpilova | Chalkbeat |  Chicago Public Schools officials said Friday that the district has made headway in providing student transportation after a rocky autumn.
• New Chicago school board president resigns after anti semitic and misogynistic Facebook posts surface By Becky Vevea | Chalkbeat |  Mayor Brandon Johnson’s newly-appointed school board president Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson is stepping down after past anti semitic and misogynistic comments surfaced online.
• Tennessee’s costly, disruptive school turnaround work didn’t help students long term By Marta W. Aldrich | Chalkbeat |   New research shows middle school students exiting Tennessee’s two primary school turnaround models experienced few educational gains in high school, raising new questions about the much-scrutinized strategies.
• Gov. Jared Polis’ budget would slow the phase-in of Colorado’s new school funding formula By Jason Gonzales | Chalkbeat |  Colorado school districts would no longer be funded based on a four-year enrollment average under a 2025-26 budget proposal released by Gov. Jared Polis Friday.  Instead, Polis is proposing to fund school districts based on a current-year enrollment estimate, a change that could mean less money for districts with declining enrollment.
• Keep or sell: Amid dropping enrollment, Colorado districts decide what to do with closed schools By Ann Schimke, Melanie Asmar and Yesenia Robles | Chalkbeat |  Soon, the former Thompson School District preschool would become “The Landing,” the first shelter for homeless youth in northern Colorado. Leaders of the effort say the state-of-the-art-building will give young people ages 15 to 20 a safe place to live and receive services while they get their lives back on track.
• Why this Ohio school district is reading a controversial ‘Grading for Equity’ book By Julian Roberts-Grmela | Chalkboard News |  According to a Lakewood City Schools presentation to the school board from earlier this month, the book will be voluntary for teachers as part of a book study. Critics say the book promotes practices that lower students’ standards, while its proponents say it is more fair to students.
• D.C. charter school accused of violating law for students with disabilities By Lauren Lumpkin | New York Times |  The SEED School of Washington, D.C., a charter boarding campus in the District, has been accused of flouting local and federal education laws that protect students with disabilities.
• New York is redefining graduation requirements. Educators have questions By Julian Shen-Berro | Chalkbeat |  New York education officials are expected to unveil new details about the state’s efforts to reimagine high school graduation requirements at a Board of Regents meeting next week.
• NYC families can earn up to $875 for evaluating financial literacy curriculum By Julian Shen-Berro | Chalkbeat |  The recruitment effort comes at a time when city and state education leaders have called for more robust financial education in schools.
• NYC overhauled summer school four years ago. Lawmakers want to know if it’s working. By Michael Elsen-Rooney | Chalkbeat | Four years after New York City overhauled its summer program to blend academics and recreation, lawmakers want to know if it’s working.
• With 52 students, this Brooklyn school is NYC’s smallest. Officials are trying to close it By Alex Zimmerman | Chalkbeat | The Education Department tried to close P.S. 25 six years ago. Will they succeed this time?

IN THE CLASSROOM

• In related news & coverage
  • Older struggling readers can benefit from explicit decoding instruction By Kara Arundel | K-12 Dive |   Early and targeted interventions are critical in helping these students understand increasingly complex tests, a study finds.

In other Classroom News…

• Doing the Best You Can With the Time You Have By Jay Schauer | Edutopia | Strategies that can help overwhelmed teachers prioritize tasks and find a balance between perfectionism and efficiency.
• SEL Has Become Politicized. Schools Are Embracing It Anyway By Arianna Prothero | Ed Week |  Eighty-three percent of principals reported that their schools use an SEL curriculum or program, up from 73 percent in 2021-22 school year, and from 46 percent in 2017-18, according to a nationally representative survey by RAND and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, or CASEL.
  • In related news & coverage
    • Guiding Young Students to Develop Self-Regulation By Lori Blake | Edutopia|  Time-saving strategies for teaching early learners social and emotional skills incorporate activities you’re already using.
• Keys to teaching data literacy in elementary school By Lauren Barack | K-12 Dive | Tracking the weather and tapping into a child’s natural curiosity are ways to build young learners’ understanding of data, math instruction experts say.
• New Findings on Teacher Morale Highlight Ways to Make It Better By Ileana Najarro | Ed Week |  In survey findings published this summer, high school teachers cited low student motivation and a lack of public respect for the profession as the top two factors that take away from satisfaction with their jobs. However, teachers who cited a lack of administrative support and a lack of autonomy over what they teach as detractors were more likely to report higher levels of dissatisfaction with their jobs.
• SURVEY | Teachers support restricting classroom cellphone use By Sunni Khalid | KALW |  The association surveyed more than 1,500 teachers across the country and found that 70 percent ranked cell phone use as one of their top five concerns. It ranked second behind academic achievement. 
• How to Support Teachers’ Emotional Health By Hedreich Nichols | Edutopia | Emotional well-being plays a major role in teachers’ job satisfaction, and it’s essential that they have effective resources for support.
• St. Louis Schools Getting $1M in Grants to Rethink How They Teach Kids to Read By Lauren Wagner | The74 | Emerson Challenge awarded 20K this year, 250K in 2025-26 to help educators collaborate on best ways to implement science of reading, boost literacy.
• Computer programs monitor students’ every word in the name of safety By Tribune News Service via East Bay Times |  Critics worry about the lack of transparency from companies that have the power to monitor students and choose when to alert school personnel.
• Misinformation is pervasive — not invincible. Teachers are helping students learn to adapt By Erica Meltzer | Chalkbeat |  Teachers in subjects ranging from language arts, math, and philosophy are taking academic questions about symbolism, sample size in polling, and discerning the truth, then applying them to the information students see every day on their phones.
• OPINION | The Blind Spot More Educators Need to Recognize By Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson | Ed Week |Like many school administrators, the majority in the room worked more than 40 hours each week, yet everyone, including Michael, quickly realized they could only say a few of those hours directly impacted the work at the classroom level.