Organizing

Oakland Families LEAD Campaign

Leadership
Engagement,
Action &
Democracy

PLAN parent leader Roberto Mendoza advocating for meaningful family engagement at OUSD School Board meeting on June 18th.
PLAN launched the Oakland Families LEAD Campaign in the Fall of 2010 because we believe that every Oakland student deserves a high-quality education, but not every Oakland student receives one. Engaged parents can make the difference!

Year one of the Campaign culminated on Saturday, June 18, 2011 when PLAN parent leaders and staff witnessed the Oakland School Board’s unanimous approval of Thriving Students, the District’s new
Strategic Plan, which included all four LEAD Campaign recommendations.

This year the LEAD Campaign is focused on strengthening our a base of parent leaders and holding OUSD accountable to make sure our campaign victories are implemented. We will influence that implementation by working with the District and ally organizations in the development of structures and policies to ensure quality family engagement becomes a reality in all Oakland schools at the District level Implementation Update –>

Read more about the Oakland Families LEAD Campaign:

OAKLAND FAMILIES LEAD CAMPAIGN: OUR GOALS

Parent must have real voice, leadership and power in OUSD budget and policy decisions and the District needs to be more transparent and accountable to low-income families of color. Specifically, Oakland Families LEAD pushed for:

  • District-wide standards for engaging families – such as accessible meeting times and location, child care, translation, etc. – and innovative policies and practices to empower parents as leaders
  • A district-wide Family Engagement Advisory Council made up of grassroots parent organizations and parent leaders
  • Regular district meetings in each OUSD “region” to hear parents’ concerns and share policy and budget developments
  • Fully functioning School Site Councils at every school and improved training and preparation for parents on School Site Councils.

PLAN parent leaders and staff were present on Saturday, June 18th, to witness the Oakland School Board’s unanimous approval of Thriving Students, the District’s new strategic plan, which included all four of the recommendations PLAN parent leaders developed over the course of the Oakland Families LEAD campaign:

  • Creating Family Engagement Standards for school and District events/programs
  • Support and training for parents to serve on site, district, and regional decision-making bodies
  • Forming a Family Engagement Advisory Committee
  • Holding regular community meetings in each of the District’s three regions.

IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE – Fall 2011

The Oakland Families LEAD campaign goals are in various stages of implementation.  The table below lists each of the goals, where OUSD is in terms of implementation and how PLAN is working to ensure that they are implemented:

1. Adopt Family Engagement Standards for all District and School Meetings OUSD’s Family Engagement Collaborative will be drafting Engagement Standards this year (2011-12) for adoption by the Board of Education. PLAN is an active member of the Collaborative and will be pushing for the inclusion of the standards our parent leaders developed during the first year of the campaign.
2. Ensure Fully Functioning School Site Councils (SSCs) at Every School “Review and design guidelines to ensure effective School Site Councils (SSCs) at each school” is included as a Year 1 Goal in OUSD’s new Strategic Plan. PLAN will continue to give input to the District on how to train and support SSC members and will also provide opportunities for leadership development at our parent meetings and trainings.
3. Establish a Family Engagement Advisory Group OUSD has created both a Family Engagement Advisory Committee and a Family Engagement Collaborative. PLAN is a member of both of these bodies. The Advisory Committee meets every other week and the Advisory Collaborative meets every other month.
4. Meet Monthly with Parents and Youth in Each Region Regional governance structures are identified as a Year 1 Goal: “Create a governance structure for each regional that involves: school, youth, parents, community organizations, city and county departments, public and non-profit entities that support and advise OUSD.” These structures are not yet in place; PLAN leaders will be involved in their development through the Family Engagement Advisory Committee and Collaborative.

OUR CAMPAIGN – Year one

During the first year of the Oakland Families LEAD campaign we:

  • SURVEYED over 500 OUSD parents to learn what you experience and what you want
  • RESEARCHED parent engagement models that work
  • ORGANIZED Town Hall and community meetings with parents, allies, and decision-makers to learn about survey results, build our platform, and advocate for meaningful parent engagement in OUSD. Check out pictures from the Town Hall on our Facebook page

In the months to come Oakland Families LEAD will continue:

  • BUILDING A BASE of Oakland parent leaders who want to have a voice in our district
  • TRAINING new members in public speaking, organizing, and understanding parent engagement
  • ADVOCATING with parents at Family Engagement Collaborative, School Board, and other District meetings to make sure parent voices are heard as OUSD implements its new Strategic Plan.
  • TAKING ACTION to win parent-led policy resolutions that achieve our goals.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

  • Attend a Parent Meeting: Parent meetings are generally held the first and third Wednesday’s of each month in an accessible location. You’ll meet other parents, learn about the latest campaign developments and see how you can get involved. Child care, translation, and light dinner are provided. Check our calendar for meeting dates and times.
  • Become a Member: Join other OUSD parents who are developing, knowledge, leadership and organizing skills to push for greater parent voice. Members help shape the direction of the campaign, hold key roles at actions and events, and receive additional training and leadership opportunities. Dues are $25 per year.
  • Volunteer: Many hands make light work! We need your help with outreach, sign-making, research, and organizing meetings, etc.

For more information contact Lead Organizer Evelyn Sanchez: evelyn at parentactionnet.org / 510-444-7526, ext. 304.