Arts Integration and Expeditions with Personalized Learning: A Look at ASCEND, NGLC in Oakland

(A cross post from the Rogers Foundation blog) In the piece below Natalie Buster, our guest blog contributor, had a chance to connect with Morgan Alconcher, Principal of ASCEND, and Julie McMillan, a teacher at ASCEND, to discover how their Next Generation Learning Challenge (NGLC) in Oakland grant allowed the school to evolve into the…


Real Talk, Real Issues, Real Action; A Youth-Led Dialogue with the OUSD Superintendent

“We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longer synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of a Nation are the trustees of Posterity”.–Benjamin Disraeli “How do you succeed in a chaotic school?”…


Elementary Schools That Asian-American Families Should Consider Based on the Latest Test Scores

Where you send your child to school is one of the most important decisions you can make.  The new school quality data was released by the state recently, and I wanted to highlight some of the schools making progress with Oakland children, and encourage families to visit.  There is and OUSD enrollment fair on 1/20 and…


How OUSD Reinforces Segregation and What We Can Do; The Results From a Recent Analysis

The residential segregation in Oakland is recreated in the schools—that was the finding from an interesting recent analysis in vox.com.  On their site you can enter your city and see how the gerrymandering of school neighborhood attendance zones either reinforce or reduce segregation.  You can also see the extreme racial segregation that some families experience.…


High Schools That Oakland Families Should Consider Based on the Latest Test Scores

Where you send your child to school is one of the most important decisions you can make.  The new school quality data was released by the state recently, and I wanted to highlight some of the schools making progress with Oakland children, and encourage families to visit.  The OUSD high school fair is 1/10 and…