1 of 40

Winter Leadership

Institute

STARTS AT 4:30PM

We are currently setting up Spanish translation

El entrenamiento empieza a las 4:30PM.

Estamos iniciando la traducción en español.

2 of 40

Who is here today?

In your chat box, type your:

Name
Role (parent or youth)
Charter school name
And what was your favorite part of the presidential inauguration?

3 of 40

Review of “ ” Norms

RENAME YOURSELF: Rename yourself on Zoom with Name, Role & School

PARTICIPATION: Take a pause and be fully present and engaged;

Stay on camera on as much as you can!

MUTE/UNMUTE: Use your mute function, host has the power to mute all

RAISE HAND: If you want to speak or ask question

CHAT BOX: Use the chat box!

REACTIONS: Feel free to liberally share “reactions”

4 of 40

TAKE A POLL

True or False?

In Oakland, all students already have access to a high quality education.
In Oakland, charter school renewal decisions by the BOE are always fair.
Black and Brown students complete A-G at a much higher rate in charter high schools.
A problem is the same as an issue
When you learn more about a problem you can turn it into an issue that you can win

Let’s Recap Session 2!

5 of 40

Homework: Let’s Hear from You!

Prop 39 Facilities

A-G for Black & Brown stds.

Academic Achievement by Race

Charter renewals

Enrollment Policy

Which problem was top for you? Why?

6 of 40

FIA Credential: Why FIA Exists

As charter school communities serving 16,881 Oakland students, we are united to fight for increased access to high quality schools
We are united under a common platform for equitable resources, budget and facilities for Oakland charter school communities
We are fighting for our kids to have their best shot at a high quality education and to be prepared for college

7 of 40

Winter Leadership Institute

Purpose & Outcome:

PEOPLE + KNOWLEDGE + STRATEGY = POWER (ACTION)

To equip our leaders (you) with knowledge on key issues that Oakland students are facing.
Strategize together on the action we will execute by the end of the school year with the issue we have identified.
Create actions that help win the issue before the end of the school year.

8 of 40

SESSION 3:

Research Action Meetings

9 of 40

Welcome Trainer Maria Flores, Director of Organizing!

Research Action Meetings

10 of 40

REFLECT: Evaluation

Personal & Group Development

“People learn through their own experiences”

ACT: Collective Action

Public Expression of Power

“The action is in the reaction”

LEARN: Research

Developing Issues and Strategies

No permanent allies, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests”

LISTEN: 1:1 Conversations

Listen and Restore Relationships

“Power is a product of relationships”

Organizing Model

Power = People + Knowledge + Plan

We are on a journey together to take back our power for the sake of our kids.. The fate of our schools and our children’s education hinges on the success of our efforts.

To be successful, we need to develop our POWER. Most simply, Power is the ability to act. More specifically, power is the ability to achieve purpose… our collective purpose/mission.

However, to achieve our purpose, we need more than people. Power is not only people, we say in organizing that power is people with knowledge and a plan!

The organizing model consists of 4 practices that all help us build our power as well as an array of principles that guide us as we go.

PEOPLE: 1:1 meetings and House Meetings in the blue arrow bring us together and help us move to the green arrow.

KNOWLEDGE: Research actions allow us to learn and provide the foundation to move to the red arrow.

STRATEGY: Action is the execution of our collective strategy/plan and is the public expression of our values.

So where are we? For the next few months, FIA will be focusing our efforts on building our KNOWLEDGE and developing our PLAN FOR ACTION.

11 of 40

We can turn our PROBLEMS into SPICY ISSUES that we can WIN...

12 of 40

Research Actions

What they are:

1 hour meeting (scheduled ahead of time)

5 - 20 leaders (meet with 1 primary “guest” or target)

Parent/Youth Led (organizer does not have a formal role)

Disciplined (focused, planned and practiced)

YOURS (your agenda, your turf, your terms)

13 of 40

Why are research meetings important?

Use the chat box or feel free to go off mute

14 of 40

Why are Research Actions important?

Simplify the complex

Help us “cut” an issue

Build power for action

15 of 40

Example of a Problem: OUSD Enrollment Stabilization Policy

Draft Policy: Enrollment Stabilization

Problems:

Charter versus district schools
Not based on family needs
Student ADA “revenue” belongs to OUSD
Our view: bad policy

16 of 40

Research Action Example: Enrollment Stabilization Policy

Is this a

Who could we talk to?

17 of 40

Action Research Meeting with Sonali Murarka, OUSD Enrollment Office

18 of 40

The 4 P’s of Research

Purpose: why are we meeting with the person? What do we want?

Person: why is this person important? What is their self interest?

Politics: what are the power dynamics? Who are their allies or enemies?

Plan: create an agenda and divide up the roles

19 of 40

Action Research Meeting with Sonali Murarka, OUSD Enrollment Office

Purpose: Sonali is in charge of the Enrollment Office for OUSD. She understands how enrollment system works, the drawbacks to the policy and what could be negotiated. She is also in charge of the charter school office. We want her insights on what are drawbacks to the policy and understand who can influence policy revisions.
Person: She is the staff “expert” on enrollment and supports the current system. She would likely support conserving the current system. Sonali is an ally and values the current system which lets families compare all Oakland schools in one place.
Politics: Shanthi Gonzales is pushing the policy and is the BOE President. She is forceful and has a lot of influence on the BOE. Shanthi sees students as revenue for the district and that charters are competition. She is very concerned about improving the district finances by increasing enrollment and closing low quality schools.
Plan: Create an agenda and divide up the roles

20 of 40

Research Actions

Guiding Organizing Principles:

People can not be held responsible for what they do not know or understand

Go in smart - come out smarter.

21 of 40

Small Group

Practice Session

22 of 40

Breakout Groups

Small Groups: Research Meeting Plan

PLAN OUT A RESEARCH MEETING :

Each group will be assigned a problem

What questions do you have about this problem?
What do you want to learn about this problem?
Who do you want to meet with to do research about this problem?

23 of 40

Whole Group Report Out

24 of 40

Homework Competition

For your homework this week:

Please rank the top 3 problem as your #1, 2, 3 choice.
Sumit homework using this Google form: https://forms.gle/EfpE9x7cbUqTn9zo6

*Extra points*

Send us a video: Identifying your top problem and why you care deeply about this problem - send video to info@fiaoakland.org

25 of 40

Homework Competition

For your social media homework this week:

Share and comment on an enrollment policy post
Share your feedback with us on the post: Is this effective? Why or why not?

Ryan Phillips, FIA’s writer and social media coordinator

@FIAOakland

@OaklandFamiliesInAction

@fiaoakland

26 of 40

TOR + FIA JOINING FORCES FOR QUALITY

Come stand strong with us Wed Jan 27 10am @ La Escuelita

27 of 40

Evaluation

In the chat box place one word or phrase of how you are feeling right now.
In the chat box (or verbally) write one “glow” of what you liked about today’s session.
In the chat box (or verbally) write one “grow” of how we could improve our sessions.

See you next Thursday, January 28 4:30-6:30pm!

Session 4

28 of 40

Appendix

29 of 40

FIA Values

We believe that now is the time to break out of isolation and build power through unity.
We seek to engage as many charter stakeholders as possible in order to build a strong movement.
We value authentic participation and genuinely reciprocal relationships.
We exist to ensure family and youth voices are heard and prioritized.
We believe that families who have been least well served in public education deserve choice in where they send their children to school

30 of 40

SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR HOMEWORK

Your name, role and school
What problems resonated with you the most and why?

Let’s Hear from You!

31 of 40

Values & Credential

32 of 40

CONVERSATION:

So if charter schools are leading the way in so many ways (highest performing, serving black and brown kids, leading in pandemic response) why is the district placing so many barriers in front of us (renewals, facilities, funding)?

Let’s Connect and Recap!

33 of 40

ERES Academy Story: Using an Action Research Approach

Turning Enrollment & Facilities Problems into Winable Issues

34 of 40

ERES Academy Video

Enrollment = 236 students (too small)

Facility = flooding, sewage problems, limited play space & 1 bathroom

35 of 40

What actions can we take?

36 of 40

We have a lot of PROBLEMS facing us...

Prop 39 Facilities

A-G for Black & Brown stds.

Academic Achievement by Race

Charter renewals

Enrollment Policy

37 of 40

PREP: Research Action Agenda

Welcome:

Introductions
Purpose and Credential

Testimony / Questions ( what stories are we sharing? What questions do we have about the issue)

Relational – who are they? self-interest? how positioned?
Issue Cutting and Strategy – how do they see the problem?
Vision – test their imagination; their commitment to a solution.

Summary & Next Steps

Follow-up: any promised information, steps to take?
Next Meeting: will they get you the “right” meeting?
Invitation: (if appropriate) will they come to an action?

Evaluation (After)

38 of 40

Research Actions

Tone

Parent Led: We are connected to people and problems
Curiosity: Listen, learn, inquire, dig, probe...
Discipline: Enter with an agenda and clarity around outcomes

Types

Problem: Exploratory - Understand problem & players

39 of 40

PREP: Research Action Agenda

Welcome:

Introductions
Purpose and Credential

Testimony / Questions ( what stories are we sharing? What questions do we have about the issue)

Relational – who are they? self-interest? how positioned?
Issue Cutting and Strategy – how do they see the problem?
Vision – test their imagination; their commitment to a solution.

Summary & Next Steps

Follow-up: any promised information, steps to take?
Next Meeting: will they get you the “right” meeting?
Invitation: (if appropriate) will they come to an action?

Evaluation (After)

40 of 40

Lana’s Group: Research Mtg w/ Sonali on Charter Renewal

Purpose: why are we meeting with the person? What do we want? We want to understand the clear criteria from Sonali. How has OUSD defined 5,6,7 year criteria. State law is silent on high track renewals and for what period of time? What, if any, are SPED requirements for charter renewals? What are the requirements for demographic requirements for charter renewals?
Person: why is this person important? What is their self interest? She runs the charter school office and enrollment office. She is for the people. She is the voice and less biased. Is she confidential with her info? She supervises the team that conducts the renewal review. Her team makes a recommendation.
Politics: what are the power dynamics? Who are their allies or enemies? You have to also build relationships with board members, not just know Sonali. There i misinformation and it becomes truth. BOE members are allies or enemies. OEA is very opionated and confusing. Does this affect Sonali?
Plan: create an agenda and divide up the roles
We might want a meeting with Ken Berrick to understand SPED requirements and address BOE concerns about SPED