Two Years in: A Closer Look at Oakland’s Measure N
Thanks to Oakland voters, Linked Learning expanded to all Oakland high schoolers
Karina wants to be a doctor. Thanks to Linked Learning, and Oakland’s Measure N, she now has a clearer path to making her dream a reality.
Karina’s biology classes at Life Academy and her internship at Children’s Hospital Oakland are deeply connected and have helped the college-bound senior learn real life skills, make important connections, and learn what it is like to be a doctor. Measure N will bring more programs like this to more Oakland students.
“My parents only got up to the sixth grade,” Karina said. “It’s important for me to finish my education and pursue being a doctor to show my parents that the fight they had to endure to come here was worth it.”
It is because of students like Karina, and our knowledge that we were not doing enough to support our students, that Oaklanders united to pass Measure N, a parcel tax that provides $12 million annually to fund these types of career pathways (Linked Learning) for students at all public high schools.
GO was among the leaders in a community effort of students, educators, families, and organizations from all areas of Oakland, to pass Measure N in 2014. The community responded with an amazing 76 percent of voters supporting us.
Research has shown that students with career pathways are more likely to graduate high school than their peers who do not. In Oakland, the graduation rate for students in career pathways is 84 percent compared to 69 percent without.
“We must graduate much more students ready to be successful in college and career,” said Kevin Taylor, OUSD High School Network Executive Officer. “Our city needs them.”
In its first year of implementation, school-based planning teams of educators assembled and crafted plans for how to transform their schools. These teams have visited numerous other schools to learn from leaders in this area of education.
We expect great things from these educators and our students in the years to come!
BE INFORMED: RESOURCES
- The Education Trust-West’s 2015 Report looks at career pathways and its benefit for preparing students for college and beyond
- Want to know more about OUSD’s Linked Learning programs? Read about what pathways are available for your child in Oakland schools
- Dig into the details of Measure N