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Education in Oakland, for a long time, has scored low with parents—public education for poor academic performance and private education for high costs. Many parents feel they can’t afford to leave their children in the hands of public education, where the schools are failing; nor can they afford to send their children to private schools, where prices rival college tuition. At the same time, East Bay businesses cite the condition of the public schools and the cost of private schools as factors adversely affecting employee recruitment.

But Oakland’s grades in these areas are improving. The community has begun to rally around the notion of bettering the public schools, and many private schools, with the help of education foundations, which have given more children access to their halls by bolstering scholarship and fi nancial aid programs.

The Oakland Unified School District institutions, unfortunately, are no strangers to low test scores and poor graduation rates. And the district finances were in such shambles at the turn of the century that the state of California took over the district in 2003 with a $100 million budget bailout. In addition, a state administrator— Randolph E. Ward—was appointed to take charge of the district, the state’s fifth largest with about 48,000 students.

"It has never been OK for children to not succeed in school, but it got to the point where it was completely unacceptable," says Safi Jiroh, executive director of the Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute, a nonprofit agency that supports Oakland public schools with teacher grants to expand classrooms and scholarships for college-bound students. "A major positive that has come out of state control is that this community as a whole has education as a priority," Jiroh says. "There is a real effort on the part of individuals, organizations [and] businesses to engage in the success of children in school. Oakland has many assets that are supportive of the schools."

The district is making headway: Since 2004, the district ranked as the most improved urban school district in California, according to data from the State Board of Education, and students in every grade level and ethnic category have seen increases in test scores. Lincoln Elementary in 2005 was one of 100 schools nationwide that won a Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Award. And more than 2,300 high school students are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses—double the number in 2004. Ward, too, has marshaled resources around a new program, Expect Success, that includes, among other features, professional support for academically challenged and small schools and some budget and resource control at the school level.

Additionally, several businesses have committed funds to help the district toward success. The district, with assistance from the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools, in 2005 captured $24 million in investments to support the Expect Success program, and the fund is expected to reach more than $30 million this year. Local organizations— the Clorox Company Foundation, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc. and Kaiser Permanente—donated and were joined by national contributors, including the Broad Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"We think OUSD is headed in the right direction," says Marie Groark, a spokeswoman for the Gates Foundation, which has given $35 million to the district since 2001. "We believe in what Oakland is doing, so we’ve been willing to give continually to help OUSD meet its goals."

"We often celebrate major donations from corporations, but most people don’t know that there are hundreds of individual volunteers in the schools," Jiroh says. "People are so concerned [that] they are spending their own time to walk into schools and ask what they can do to help."

The educational environment in Oakland extends beyond the bounds of the district, and the at-large community has been supportive of private schools and educational programs that enrich children’s lives.

"If you defi ne education as only the school district, you are missing out on a lot of opportunities where children are being transformed," says Mike Howe, president of the East Bay Community Foundation.

One of the foundation’s major causes is education, and so it has worked with individuals, organizations and businesses to create synergies to positively affect Oakland. Not all money for local educational programs fl ows through the foundation, but much does, so the foundation is a good barometer of the underlying support for education. The total number of foundation grants fi ve years ago was 525 (representing $4.4 million); those grants grew in 2005 to 790 (representing $7.7 million).

But, Howe says, Oakland has a long way to go.

"About 30 years ago, this country was number one, or close to it, in all areas of core education subjects, including math [and] science," Howe says. "In less than 30 years, we’ve basically dropped like a stone, and it has to do with how the government has under-funded education in this country."

Howe points to nationwide statistics—69 percent of fourth graders perform below their grade level and 46 percent of math and science teachers are not certified to teach their subject—to help drive home a point.

"Our expectations and willingness to invest don’t match," he says. "We can’t continue to reduce our investments and expect that same quality from the system. We can invest in specifi c programs in our community, but until the education system is properly funded by the government, [the programs] will not have the impact that they could have." Even wealthy communities with educational foundations and funds to support specifi c public or private schools have a hard time getting all the resources they need, Howe says. Traditionally, he says, philanthropy is about exploring new programs— not paying for basic elements of an educational system.

The Community Foundation was involved in funding after-school programs in the 1980s, which eventually became California Healthy Start for Kids. The program worked well, and the state adopted it and funded it through Proposition 49. "Once you identify something that works, you take it to scale—but with government dollars," Howe says. "To supplant government education dollars is a mistake. Private funding lasts only a limited time, so critical services and programs have to be funded by the government."

The solution? Private citizens, organizations concerned about education and business owners should demand that their elected offi cials move the conversation from declining investment to seriously bankrolling education, Howe says. More leadership and participation are needed from every part of society—from parents to CEOs—to make education a funding priority, he says.

Because of the renewed monetary and personal investments in the Oakland educational environment, now is the right time for organizing to change the direction in education, Howe says.

The Institute’s Jiroh agrees: "We are on fertile ground."

The seeds have been planted, and many schools and programs are blooming, as this report on East Bay education shows. These smart and innovative approaches to education—in public and private schools and beyond—are helping Oakland’s institutions make the grade.

Helping Hands

Dozens of organizations, from nonprofits to businesses, support the educational environment in Oakland. Here’s a look at a few outside the public and private school systems that enrich the lives and minds of Oakland children.

Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools

Known as BayCES, the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools assists urban schools, school districts and community groups in creating or redesigning their schools and focuses on producing high-achieving and equitable schools. This group does on-site coaching, professional development, district redesign, community partnership facilitation and networking services. BayCES sponsors the Kick-Off Network Dinner and Network Site Visits, an open house where interested parties can learn firsthand how a school is engaged in developing itself. One program, Leading for Equity Institute, gives instructional and emotional support for those working toward bettering the high school experience. Another, the Inquiry for Equity Network, helps educators transform classrooms into places to serve all children; and yet another, Leading for Equity, Achievement and Democracy, or LEAD, trains new school leaders in the Bay Area. 1720 Broadway, 4th Floor, (510) 208-0160, www.bayces.org.

Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute

The Marcus A. Foster Education Institute’s mission is to develop relationships and resources that create opportunities to help all children in Oakland public schools achieve success. Foster established the Oakland Education Institute in 1973, which was later renamed in his honor after his death. The organization gives grants to children to attend camps, workshops and conferences to enrich their education and provides $1,000 or $2,000 college scholarships to Oakland public school students. The institute’s New Notions for Excellence program gives $2,000 grants to public school teachers who develop innovative teaching or professional development projects. The agency also runs Parent University, a collaboration with several other organizations that teaches parents how to better support their children’s academic success and social well being. The institute’s Principal for a Day program allows business leaders to experience school administration and connect with local schools. 1203 Preservation Park Way, No. 303, (510) 835-0391, www.mafei.org.

Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theater Program

Kaiser Permanente, founded in Oakland 60 years ago, invests in Oakland outside its medical facilities. Because Kaiser is a nonprofit, the organization believes contributing to the community is a part of its core foundation. Since 1985, Kaiser’s Educational Theater Program has provided free live theatre, music, comedy and drama to inspire children, teens and adults to make healthier choices and better decisions about their well-being and health. The award-winning program for kindergarten through 12th-grade audiences offers four performances on health and nutrition, safety, violence prevention, substance abuse, peer pressure, HIV and AIDS and self-esteem. The newest production, Zip’s Great Day, helps students learn about developing self-esteem, dealing with personal conflict, following the healthy food pyramid, exercising, saying “No” to smoking and the value of reading. Other programs include P.E.A.C.E. Signs, an anti-violence program; Nightmare on Puberty Street about the challenges adolescents face; and Secrets, an HIV/AIDS education drama. 1814 Franklin St., No. 805. (510) 987-2223, http://xnet.kp.org/etp/ncal/index.html. To support extra-curricular educational programs in Oakland, contact the East Bay Community Foundation, (510) 836-3223, www.eastbaycf.org.

Cheat Sheets

The phrase "back to school" strikes panic in the hearts of many parents, as it brings to mind visions of frantic hunts for pencils in the right color, hotly contested Hello Kitty socks, hardto- fi nd Darth Vader backpacks, the designer jeans du jour and the latest tech toys. Instead of waiting moments before the school bell rings, do your homework now and prepare for school during the summer. Here are some tips on how to get your shopping done early, sync with your school’s schedule and get your children ready for school.

Grade Potential Schools Early

• Summer is the time to start investigating your choices for the new school year. If your child starts school this fall, you should have already made your pick and enrolled. Open houses and school tours are generally in late fall and early winter, and most people have enrolled their children by early spring. To enroll in the 2007-08 school year, start now.

• If your child will attend a public school, check out Attend & Achieve: A Parent’s Guide to Oakland Unified School District. If you need help selecting a private school, the East Bay Independent Schools Association publishes a guide describing more than 40 private schools.

• Starting early affords you the time to talk with a school’s principal, teachers and parents, so that you can make a well-informed decision.

Shop Early, Shop Often

• Start preparing for school early by getting your shopping done when you child is at camp or summer play dates. It is easier on your wallet—and your blood pressure—if you chip away at your shopping list a little bit at a time during the summer rather than a week before school starts. Of course, find a safe place to stockpile your supplies.

• Your list should include: new clothes (or uniforms), writing supplies, math tools, art supplies, gym clothes (or uniforms) and shoes. Check with both your school and teacher to find out about specialty items.

• For older children, you can begin to teach them financial responsibility by giving them a set allowance for school supply shopping. Help children develop a list of school supplies, and divide the list into “needs” and “wants.” Expose them to the joys of bargain hunting and sale shopping, and let them transfer saved money to their “want” list.

• Check appropriate online stores for deals that beat what you can find in stores. Online shopping can create great savings.

Timekeeping 101

• Check with your school for important dates, such as the first and last day of school, holidays, teacher in-service days and other important occasions. • Talk regularly with your child’s teachers to find out homework and test schedules.

• Track how much time your child spends on play activities vs. studying and exercising. TV, video games and talking on the phone are activities that can quickly eat up a lot of time and lead to poor grades. If your child isn’t studying, participating in an enrichment program or exercising, make sure that the amount of time spent with recreational activities is planned.

• Don’t over-schedule your child. A mistake that modern parents are likely to make is not scheduling enough free time for their children. Children feel the effects of stress and exhaustion, just as adults do. Make sure to plan downtime so your child can decompress from the demands of the day.

Tech Toys

• An Apple a day keeps the bad grades away. Kinda. Many schools are adapting Apple’s iPod MP3 player and iTunes audio interface technology for educational use. Audio files that supplement classroom lessons and homework assignments are all easily accessible now through an iPod. Radio and TV news broadcasts and other informational and educational programs can be found on iTunes and downloaded to an iPod.

• Many school have fully integrated computers into their curriculums and require students to do assignments on computers. Papers, multimedia presentations, statistics, mathematical charts and Web site construction are all tasks that today’s students do with the aid of computer technology. Don’t let your purchasing decisions be driven by your child’s fashion preferences; check with a teacher and knowledgeable computer sales representative to determine what tools really contribute to your child’s computer literacy.

• PDAs (personal digital assistants) are useful for helping busy children keep track of homework and tests. IPods hold a basic calendar, but multifunctional models from Dell, HP, Palm and others will hold calculators, address books, todo lists, dictionaries and, of course, games (some of which are educational).

• Many schools ban the use of cell phones on school grounds, but if your child is older—and in particular a driver—a cell phone can be a handy tool for keeping in touch with teens who sometimes have busier lives than their parents. For parents who are on the fence about the pros and cons of a cell phone, some companies offer service that only allows a phone to receive incoming

Cool Schools

Searching for a school for your child can be a daunting venture, because the East Bay offers many choices that fit children and families with different educational preferences and goals. Here are a few with unique approaches.

Oakland Military Institute Preparatory Academy

The Oakland Military Institute opened in 2001 as a result of Mayor Jerry Brown’s collaboration with the California National Guard. Formed as a public charter school by the California State Board of Education, the school is a co-educational charter school that provides a tuition-free alternative to local public schools. Open to children in grades six through 12, OMI’s goal is to deliver a structured and rigorous academic program that develops cadets into leaders, scholars, critical thinkers and productive citizens. 2405 W. 14th St., (510) 267-3900. www.omiacademy.org.

Oakland School of the Arts

Oakland School of the Arts provides students in grades six through 12 with intensive pre-professional training in the arts while maintaining high academic standards within a college-preparatory curriculum. The school integrates arts and academics in a way that fosters creative and critical thinking in English, math, languages, science and social studies. OSA also offers students with the necessary skills to pursue careers in the arts, including internships with local and national art programs. The Fox Theater is OSA’s future home, a project that is preparing 70,000 square feet for the 500 children who will attend. OSA will also be able to use the stage and facilities in the 55,000-square-foot theater. 1800 San Pablo Ave., (510) 8773-8800, www.oakarts.org.

Sankofa Academy

Sankofa, a new Oakland public school serving grades kindergarten through three and grades six and seven, opened this year in the building of a North Oakland school that closed because of poor performance. With an enrollment of about 40 students, the school is part of Oakland Unified School District’s small-school experiment. “Sankofa” is a Ghanaian concept that means looking to the past to know who you are and where you are going. The school’s goal is to help students achieve academic success by cultivating one-on-one relationships with fellow students and involving parents in the fabric of the school. 581 61st St., (510) 879-1610, www.ousd. k12.ca.us.

St. Paul’s Episcopal School

St. Paul’s considers itself a private school with a public purpose. Founded in 1975, the school offers kindergarten through eighth grade education to boys and girls from all corners of the city. Near Lake Merritt, St. Paul’s focuses on rigorous academic programs and spiritual development and is well known for its award-winning Service Learning Program that combines academics with community service. Although the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church next door founded the school, which has a full-time chaplain, the school celebrates diversity in religion and spiritual beliefs. St. Paul’s families include Buddhists, Christians, Hindu, Jews, Muslims, agnostics and atheists. 116 Montecito Ave., (510) 285-9600, www.spes.org.

To investigate schools in the Oakland Unified School District, log on to www.ousd.k12.ca.us/. To check out private schools, contact the East Bay Independent Schools Association at www.ebisaca.org.