What’s Really Wrong with Closing Schools and How the “Opportunity Ticket” Fixes It

Closing schools balances the district’s budget woes on the backs of the already most underserved parents.  The reality of closings is that it does nothing for those parents who have been dis-served and will be displaced.  Typically, they attend an equally low-performing school that is further away and/or less familiar.  And while the district may…


Choice Is Not Access: A Parent’s Journey in Oakland’s School “System”

Micshell Bunton an Oakland resident, a proud mom of two boys, and a parent leader with The Oakland REACH. If you are a parent who wants to get involved in The Oakland REACH, please email [email protected]. I would do anything for my sons, especially when it comes to their education. I’ve spent more than a decade volunteering…


“I Was Failed Once by the School System” Now This Oakland Parent Is Finding Her Voice and Power

A guest post from Lisa Babbitt and Oakland parent describing her experiences and why she joined The Oakland REACH Do you know how impossible it can feel to play in a game when you don’t know the rules? You get dismissed, pushed out, left feeling defeated. I know this feeling all too well trying to help…


Parents and Kids Should Not Need to Win a Lottery to Have a Quality School

I am an Oakland parent, and below is the text of my speech at the Oakland REACH kickoff event. Who here wants the best for your child? This a question that every parent here is faced with every single day. Although “the best” for us all means different things, we all want them to find…


Breaking the Cycle in Oakland: A Woke Grandparent’s Story

Connie Williams is a mother and grandmother of Oakland public school children, she also graduated from Oakland public schools. She is one of the lead parents in the Oakland REACH, a new parent driven organization advocating for quality education for ALL of Oakland’s families with a focus on equity. Making our Voices Heard We are the…