Welcome back from the Thanksgiving break. As we launch into the final month of 2006, there is a great deal of activity underway.
Major topics in this update include:
§ Prop 49 Planning and Update
§ High School Conversation Continues November 29
§ Workforce Development Projects – Career Fair, Training and Course Development
§ Job Board and Calendars
§ Joint Powers Authority – Community Representation To Be Requested
§ OUSD Community Engagement Meeting – December 8
§ School-CBO Partnership Workshop Underway
§ Meetings Under Development – Quality Conversation and Prop 49 Update
§ Membership and Allies Growing
At present, it is still unclear how principals will decide
to implement Prop 49 at their individual schools. We are seeking to get the best information available and are meeting
with OUSD SUCCESS office frequently. Our hunch is that a great deal of activity
will occur in December and early January as principals reach out and establish
partnerships with community organizations to implement Prop 49 services in late
January or February (start of 2nd semester). Our FAQ webpage has
just been updated with additional information, including information about the
Oakland Fund for Children and Youth RFP. Click here to go directly
to that page. (Please note that the OFCY December 5 Letter of Intent due date
is optional.) As you learn more about how your organization might be involved
with new Prop 49-related activities, please let us know so that OCASA can be of
the most service. We are considering holding a meeting in mid-December for
community based organizations to provide a check in and planning time for Prop
49 implementation. More details soon…
Over the past 2 months, representatives of approximately a
dozen community based organizations have been meeting to discuss after school
programs and possibilities as related to high school. On November 29 from
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS – CAREER FAIR, TRAINING
AND COURSE DEVELOPMENT
Over the past four months, a group of OCASA members, OUSD
staff, community college and legislative representatives, and other partner
organizations have been meeting to think about how we might prepare to meet the
workforce needs that Prop 49 implementation would create (click here
for participant list). One track of these meetings has focused upon creating a certificate
course path and special youth
development class for (primarily entry level) afterschool workers. Another
track has focused upon creating at least one career fair to attract new
workers, currently targeted to be held at
A couple months ago we launched the Oakland After School Job Board as a
resource for helping employers and jobseekers find each other. Of late, the
board has grown stagnant, but we anticipate it being very useful as Prop 49
implementation becomes clearer. Information about the board is available at http://oaklandafterschool.org/JobBoard.htm.
The board can be accessed directly at http://www.setbb.com/ocasajobs/.
Please continue to help this free resource grow by posting positions, looking
at responses, and spreading the word. We are partnering with the California
School Age Consortium and the Alameda County Office of Education to cross post
JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY – COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION TO BE
REQUESTED
In July, the City Council voted to become a charter member
of the Youth Ventures Joint Power Authority (JPA) if the school district also
agrees to do so by
OUSD is reaching out to community partners regarding their
Expect Success! redesign and has asked OCASA to
encourage its partners to participate. On Friday, December 8 from
On November 18, approximately 25 community partners
participated in the first of a two-part OCASA workshop focused on School-CBO
partnerships. Convened by OCASA, supported by the OUSD SUCCESS office and led
by representatives from Hatchuel Tabernik &
Associates, first session participants explored their own organizations’
institutional culture and ways it might clash with that of schools and other
organizations. In the second session on December 8, participants will reflect
on how they might have employed the concepts from session one and then develop
specific strategies for their organizations and more broadly for
MEETINGS UNDER DEVELOPMENT – QUALITY CONVERSATION AND PROP
49 UPDATE
OCASA is considering a December launch of an ongoing “quality conversation.” Based upon feedback from many members and allies that they are feeling mounting pressure to define quality in terms of academic standards (and more specifically, standardized test scores), these conversation would be designed to bring together CBOs, the district, the city, funders and other stakeholders to address how we define quality and support continual improvement. As mentioned earlier, OCASA is also considering hosting a Prop 49 implementation/update meeting in mid-December that would give CBOs a chance to share what connections have been made with schools, as well as discuss the OFCY RFP and ongoing workforce development efforts. If you would like to be involved in either or both of these meeting, or if you have suggestions, please contact Jeff or Edward.
OCASA has continued to grow and our website is continually updated to reflect the list of our organizational members (29!) and allies. Click here to view. Please consider joining or indicate if you would like to added (or removed) from the “allies” list. Your membership contributions help guarantee that the core administrative costs of OCASA are met, and collectively they serve as a reminder that we are more powerful acting together than acting apart. Organizational membership is $250 per year for organizations with budgets of over $200,000, $125 per year for organizations with budgets under $200,000. All organization staff automatically become members when the organization joins. Members are invited to all membership meetings and only members are eligible to serve on the Steering Committee. If dues are a significant barrier to your membership, please contact Edward Hannemann. More information and a registration form is available online (click here).
Questions or comments about this update, please contact:
Edward Hannemann, Steering Committee Chair, ehannemann@sbcglobal.net
Jeff Abramson, Director, at jeffabra@rocketmail.com
See our updated webpage at www.oaklandafterschool.org.