I have one relatively simple and costless reform that could decrease Black dropout rates by roughly a third, increase significantly the percentage of Black students in gifted classes and also increase student engagement for youth of all races. We just need to hire, retain and develop more Black teachers.  I look at the research below…

Oakland is full of performance politics, that go nowhere except to the egos of the speechmakers. Meanwhile, the Oakland NAACP has been a steadfast ally for Black children and the issues that actually matter to Black families, like literacy.  In K-8, 18.6% of Black kids can read on grade level in OUSD, compare that to…

We had victories on housing, enrollment reform, Internet For All, and building community, we still need you on Black teachers and equity in college readiness, please join us

OUSD is embarking on a fundamental change to the way that families enroll in public schools.  One that will make it even more complicated, requiring families to go to two separate websites to apply to district schools and charter schools.  Before it makes a move, it should ask families what they want, because last time…

It’s been a long slog but OUSD finally is taking bids to do affordable housing at two of its vacated school sites.  For any rational actor, the idea of using otherwise vacant properties to create housing for underserved families and/or staff and potentially generate revenue, rather than pay ongoing upkeep costs for empty buildings, would…