Improving the Quality of Education for Black Students in Oakland: Addressing the Lack of Support and Resource Distribution

By Daliyah Landers

Grown-ish | Disney–ABC Domestic Television

According to The 2021–2022 Scholar Voice Report, a significant number of black students in Oakland are not receiving a quality education. This issue demands the attention of both parents and schools, who must take proactive measures to ensure children receive the education they deserve. As an observer, I have identified two key issues that schools must address to improve the quality of education for black students: the lack of support and resource availability and distribution.

The lack of support is a recurring theme that emerged from the Energy Convertor 2021–2022 Scholar Voice Report. Scholars have identified their need for additional help on multiple occasions. During an interview with an eleventh-grade student, the student mentioned their struggles with attending class and completing work. When asked about how to improve the public school system, they mentioned their desire to have more people to help them. Another eleventh-grade student noted, “I feel like for the students who are kind of behind, more behind than other people, they should just take a little bit more time with them.” This demonstrates that support can be in the form of tutoring, but it can also be as simple as providing information. For instance, schools can educate students on A-G requirements, which are necessary for California college admission. Unfortunately, not all schools do this, leaving students ill-informed and unprepared for their future. If schools encouraged and motivated students to strive for higher grades instead of settling for the bare minimum, it would have a positive impact on students both in Oakland and outside of Oakland.

Another concerning issue for public schools is resource availability and distribution. Since a large portion of school funding comes from local property taxes, students who attend schools with high property values receive more funding than their peers from communities with lower property values. The subjective nature of property values has historical ties to the discriminatory practice of Redlining, which primarily targeted communities of color, especially Black communities. Although Redlining is now illegal, the perception of neighborhoods and their property values continues to impact school funding, negatively affecting school quality. Schools in districts with higher property values can afford to supplement teacher salaries to attract high-quality teachers, while districts with lower property values struggle to do so. Moreover, according to cde.ca.gov, https://www.cde.ca.gov/, it list the amount schools in California receive per student, and attendance plays a significant role in school funding. In my opinion, schools should use the attendance funding more intentionally on resources that create positive academic results, especially in Oakland. Alternatively, schools can use the attendance funding to offer better pay for teachers and administrators, which would attract high-quality teachers to teach students what they need to graduate from high school with all requirements for higher learning.

To address the issues of students graduating without the necessities for higher learning, teachers and school staff should be required to teach A-G requirements to students, and be held for making sure students demonstrate their understanding of the importance of being A-G eligible to get accepted into a University. This would benefit many black students in Oakland and help them prepare for college. Additionally, schools should use some of their attendance funding to raise the pay for teachers, which would stop teacher shortages and improve the quality of education for students. Our government should work towards equality of property value throughout neighborhoods, which would provide appropriate funding for schools. These funds can also be used for numerous of things that contribute towards elevating academics. Overall, if school districts put more effort into helping their students be successful students and give them a quality education, it would increase the likelihood of students having success inside and out of the classroom.

Here are Agentic Solutions for parents and student:

1. Speak up: Parents and students should speak up when they feel they are not getting the right service. They can speak with teachers, administrators, and school board members. Speaking up can help bring attention to the problem and lead to positive changes.
2. Get involved: Parents and students can get involved by working with teachers at the school, attending school board meetings, volunteer their time at their child’s school, etc. This can help them understand the issues their school is facing and provide them with an opportunity to make a positive impact by becoming the change they want to see.
3. Advocate for equal funding: Parents and students can voice their concerns for equal funding for schools by attending school board meetings, writing to elected officials, and raising awareness about the issue in the community.
4. Seek additional support: Students who are struggling academically have opportunities to get additional support from teachers, tutors, or even community organizations. Parents can also contact their child’s school to take advantage of what’s already available.
5. Become aware of A-G: Parents and students must be aware of the A-G requirements and form an effective relationship with school counselors.

By taking these actions, parents and students can show agency and improve the quality of education for black students in Oakland, and make sure they have the resources needed for them to perform good.