FreeSkool Research

The goal of this page is not to transform the reader into an expert in OUSD politics or Free School history. Rather, it is attempt to help people in the collective (and others) to be not completely ignorant of the state of affairs. Enjoy your reading.

The Oakland Unifed School District "Situation"

In 2003 the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) was coming to grips with a 100 million dollar deficit. A deal was made: the state of California would provide a 100-million bailout (loan) in exchange for control of the district. This control would be in the form of Randy Ward: a replacement for the already-elected superintendent. The school board would be regulated to an advisory role and all the legally prescribed power in OUSD would rest with Ward's office.

What followed should not come as a surprise. Like many other school districts across the country, the OUSD has had its share of problems. "Violence, poverty, drugs, single parenthood, teen pregnancy and unemployment" are the conventionally-cited reasons for the inability to manage problems in school districts such as OUSD. Others point to larger, more systemic reasons: race and class injustice, the industrial-military complex, the "nature" of the United States, etc. The point is that Oakland's situation is not unique and that it is among a growing pattern of state/federal takeovers taking place all over the U.S.

There are also what appears to be larger political forces at work. The national No Child Left Behind act of 2003 mandated school improvement with a heavy price for failure including conversion to charter schools (privitization), closure or restructuring (firing + rehiring). There are also largely "free market" or corporate sponsored foundations strongly backing the creation of charter schools (with millions of dollars). These efforts seem to be, in part, attempts to establish stronger corporate-school relationships as well as weaken unions, e.g., teacher unions.

What is Happening in OUSD?

Much of Wards plans are controversial to say the least. Some of the more noteworthy are:

Shut down the Adult Education Department, which serves 25,000 students
Shut down six (seven?) Oakland schools
Transform eight Oakland elementary schools into charter schools
Drastically cut early childhood education programs
Continued layoffs of custodians and food-workers
Lay off 200 elementary school and middle school teachers
Cut 50 of the remaining art and music teachers from Oakland elementary schools
Lay off 47 of the already understaffed middle and high school counselors
Cut 30 high school art and music teachers
Cap teachers' health care benefits

(courtesy of http://www.prisonactivist.org/pipermail/prisonact-list/2005-March/009758.html)

Key Events

June 2003: "California provided the Oakland schools with a $100 million line of credit - the most expensive school bailout in state history - but it came with strings attached. A state administrator was sent in to lead the system and given total authority. The superintendent was fired. The elected school board remained, but only in an advisory capacity." - Baltimore Sun
March 2004: Ward threatens to close 5 schools
December 2004: Ward releases plans to close 13 schools in total
February 2005: Ward releases plans to shut down Oakland's adult education program
More to fix/add...

Key Trends

Oakland has had decreasing enrollment, in particular in the African American community, for the last five yeras.
The number of Oakland school teachers has dropped accordingly. For example, teacher cuts were from 2800 in 2003 to 2,450 in 2004.
More to fix/add...

Quotes

"The failure of several schools to make adequate yearly progress will result in increasing sanctions under NCLB...when--for two years in a row--they do not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward the goal of having all students become proficient in English language arts and mathematics by 2013-14."
"Since 1999, Oakland public schools (including charters) have lost over 6,000 students." - Ward's School Closing Plan. Why? This is not yet clear and seems awfully important.
"The failure of several schools to make adequate yearly progress will result in increasing sanctions under NCLB...when--for two years in a row--they do not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward the goal of having all students become proficient in English language arts and mathematics by 2013-14."
"[The] Oakland Unified School Board and Oakland teachers had just agreed to a new contract. The starting salary for new teachers will jump from $29,260 to $37,918. Veteran teachers earning the highest salary will find their earnings jumping from $55,009 to $68,144 a year." - May 2000
"In Oakland’s case, was it fraud, misappropriation of funds, sheer sloppiness in clearly abnormal accounting practices (including budget plugging); improper use of district cafeteria funds; and inflated attendance reporting (which resulted in less than projected revenues)?" According to Murphy's law, probably all of the above.
"I know that the current Oakland schools budget crisis is really bad, but Piedmont is also laying off teachers. The difference is that there are parents donating tons of money and time to the schools (not to mention voting in parcel taxes, bond measures, etc.) I'm hopeful that there will be other parents like me who will donate what they can in time/materials/money to my child's Oakland school and assist the teacher (as needed), so that my child can get a good education within a diverse group."

FreeSkools, Free Schools

(To do...)

Community

Fruitvale

East Oakland

Millsmont Neighborhood Association

West Oakland

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

Other

Barrington Collective: FreeSkoolPlanningArchive/AcademicResearch (last edited 2008-01-10 05:18:25 by anonymous)