April 24, 2019

Oakland Unified may need $2 million more in budget cuts to give other employees same raise as teachers

Alameda County Office of Education analysis of district's budget reveals shortfall if all unions get the same level salary increase as teachers.

Theresa Harrington

April 23, 2019

Restorative justice among programs partially saved by Oakland City Council

Oakland Unified to receive $1.2 million from city to help reinstate cuts to Restorative Justice and Foster Youth programs, supplement library funding.

Theresa Harrington

April 18, 2019

Teach for America targeted as legislation seeks to limit inexperienced teachers in California

Assemblywoman has introduced a bill that would ban some inexperienced teachers from schools with a high percentage of low-income students.

Theresa Harrington

April 17, 2019

Rising rents in coastal California outpace teacher pay

Many, especially first-year teachers, are spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent, exceeding the federal cutoff for affordable housing.

Diana Lambert And Daniel J. Willis

April 4, 2019

Oakland Unified gets unprecedented help with fiscal practices

Alameda County Office of Education team steps in to train district staff and help implement fiscal stability procedures as chief business officer position is eliminated.

Theresa Harrington

March 25, 2019

California school district among latest to change board elections to better reflect diversity of community

West Contra Costa Unified is one of the latest California school districts to agree to switch from at-large to by-district elections in 2020. The goal is to have the board reflect the community's diversity.

Theresa Harrington

March 4, 2019

Oakland school board cuts $20.2 million from budget, including 100 jobs

Board member Jody London said the district could not give teachers the raises it agreed to in settling the recent strike without making the cuts.

Theresa Harrington

March 3, 2019

After seven-day strike, Oakland teachers approve new contract

The district and teachers' union reach a four-year agreement that would give teachers an 11 percent raise, plus a 3 percent bonus.

By Theresa Harrington

February 28, 2019

Bay Area district joins others in calling for moratorium on charter school expansions

School boards in West Contra Costa Unified, Los Angeles Unified and Oakland Unified have all expressed concerns about the growth of charter schools.

Theresa Harrington

February 27, 2019

Oakland Unified discloses improved contract offer after protesters shut down board meeting

District increased salary hike offer, but teachers' union and supporters are holding out. Demands include higher raises, smaller classes and student resources.

Theresa Harrington

February 26, 2019

Teachers' strike is costing Oakland school district about $1 million a day

With a high percentage of students and teachers honoring picket line, Oakland Unified is losing state funds, partially offset by savings in not having to pay striking teachers’ salaries.

Louis Freedberg And Theresa Harrington

February 25, 2019

Tony Thurmond, state schools chief, joins Oakland teacher negotiations at union's request

Weekend talks broke off after union held fast to its demands. The district canceled a Monday night board meeting to focus on negotiations.

Theresa Harrington

February 21, 2019

California charter schools facing new oversight under fast track legislation

Senate Bill 126, which was passed in the Senate Feb. 21, would require that California charter school boards comply with the same open meeting, conflict-of-interest and disclosure laws as district school boards, including holding public board meetings, opening records to the public upon request and ensuring board members don’t have a financial interest in contracts on which they vote.

Diana Lambert

February 12, 2019

Oakland school board delays budget cuts amid complaints of lack of details

For months the district warned it needed to cut $30 million from its 2019-20 budget. When a plan to cut a lower amount came before them, the board put off a vote amid complaints that members didn't know how the cuts would impact students and schools. About 100 staffers, most from the central office, are slated to lose their jobs.

Theresa Harrington

February 12, 2019

Acclaimed restorative justice program on the chopping block in Oakland Unified

Students and advocates are loudly protesting a plan to significantly cut staff from the popular initiative, which emphasizes alternatives to punitive discipline approaches like suspension and expulsion.

David Washburn