The debate over creating a common enrollment system for parents that includes charters and district schools rages on. I attended the recent OUSD engagement session and the Oakland Post also ran an op-ed critiquing common enrollment by Rosie Torres, “’Common Enrollment’ is a Misfit for the Problems that Plague Oakland Schools Retaining and improving…
We’re 46th , We’re 46th (In education spending)
Education Week’s finance issue came out recently and the bad news—California was fifth from last in per pupil spending, 46th counting the District of Columbia. The numbers are a few years old, and we have maybe passed Oklahoma over the last couple of years (yee-haw?), but it’s even worse than it seems. These numbers are…
Valid Critiques of Common Enrollment
Last week we broke down some of the crap arguments against common enrollment flying around Oakland. This week we address some real ones, and the need to make any system work for underserved families. Having one system where families can review school programs and quality, rank their choices and have a match created makes a lot of…
Lamenting School Choice Week and the Need for Braver Authorizers
It’s national school choice week next week, and as the resident charter killjoy, I am compelled to throw some cold water on the celebration. School choice is not a panacea. There is no real “market” in education (and if there were it would be scary) and there is nothing inherent in providing a hypothetical choice…
Oakland Ed Week in Review 1.15.16
What’s new in Oakland Education wise? OUSD Board Officer Elections– Director Harris retained the presidency (hands clapping) and Nina Senn took over as the Vice President. Oakland’s common enrollment proposal was “debated” in the Contra costa Times, as we argued in Bad Arguments Against Common Enrollment Part 1, many of those critiques didn’t hold water.…