Oakland School District’s Reparations Program for Black Students Falls Short
Five years ago, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) promised comprehensive reparations for Black students. Critics now argue this initiative has not met its objectives, leaving students with poor academic results. The school board’s ‘Reparations for Black Students’ resolution, passed in March 2021, established a 24-member Black Thriving Task Force to develop a plan to close the opportunity gap by 2026.
However, former task force members disclose that the group stopped meeting after a year due to internal conflicts and frequent changes in district leadership. One ex-member, Kevin Hill, expressed frustration over the lack of progress, stating, ‘It was as if we all got together and wasted our collective breath for a whole year.’ Dissension among members centered on school closures and how district officials should participate in reparations efforts.
“The district’s initial resolution sought to create a ‘Black Thriving Fund’ aimed at recruiting Black educators, implementing a Black-centered curriculum, enforcing anti-racism staff training, and improving family outreach,” former director Lawanda Wesley said.
This measure intended to rectify historic inequalities within the district. In the 2018-19 school year, data revealed that Black students, though 22% of enrolment, accounted for 57% of suspensions. Furthermore, Black students with Special Education IEPs were suspended nine times more than their peers.
OUSD’s testing has shown minimal change in student performance. Black students continue to exhibit the lowest proficiency rates in math and English. Nearly 46% face chronic absenteeism, with about 10% suspended. The official reparations webpage remains unaltered since 2021, meetings have stopped, and Black enrollment has dropped to under 20% from nearly half two decades ago.
In 2023, after a teachers’ union grievance, the district revived a smaller version of the task force. The renewed plan now emphasizes targeted family engagement and support at 11 ‘Black Thriving Schools,’ where at least 40% of students are Black. Some locals believe certain promises persist through new ‘Teacher on Special Assignment’ roles, but others feel the district has abandoned its public commitments.
District officials have not responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Nonetheless, OUSD spokesperson John Sasaki affirmed the task force’s current activity and focused leadership, emphasizing support for Black student achievement and welfare.