After months of contention and countless hours of back and forth, Oakland has a new school. The State Board of Education approved Latitude Charter High School on 7/12, which will open this Fall in the Fruitvale. While Oakland has a too many schools problem it also has an even bigger problem of not having enough…
How Trying to Silence the School’s First Black Valedictorian Backfired; And Other Lessons for Petty Tyrants
“I’m here as the UPrep 2018 valedictorian to tell you that you couldn’t break me. I’m still here, and I’m still here strong,”—Jaisaan Lovett in his mayoral address when denied a chance to speak at his high school commencement If you are a valedictorian, you earned your speech time, unless your truths make the principal nervous. …
See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil on “Disproportionality”-The Latest Federal Assault on Equity
It is a strange time when reading the latest federal education regulations moves from mundane and boring to painful and soul sucking. Mired in the language of bureaucracy you can see young souls being crushed. We have seen stripping of protection for gender non- conforming youth to even have the right to a relatively safe…
Good News on “Willful Defiance” Suspensions in Oakland and What We Need Next
Usually a letter signed by the ACLU to your school or district is not a good thing. This one was a pleasant surprise sent to our principal, Leo Fuchs, at Learning Without Limits, recognizing the success in eliminating “willful defiance” suspensions. This mirrors some broader statewide efforts, that are starting to gain traction and that we should…
The Grand Jury Is In on Oakland Unified and the Conclusions are Damning
“While students in OUSD seem to pay a heavy price for this poor governance, experts tell the Grand Jury that those responsible, the board and the district’s decision-makers, seem to pay little or no price for their actions or inactions.”- Alameda Grand Jury Report 2018 The Alameda County Grand Jury’s Annual Report drove another nail into…