For seven years running, Oakland Unified has been the most improved urban school district in California. Oakland is preparing for the rollout in 2014 of common core state standards, which will require students to integrate knowledge and be able to communicate orally and in writing about their learning across all disciplines. You can learn more about Oakland Unified’s academic initiatives at Preparing Students for Success.

President London was proud in 2009 to support adoption of the A-G college entrance requirements from the University of California and California State University systems as the high school graduation requirement for Oakland students. The current freshman class is the first in Oakland that will meet this requirement. All students should graduate with the opportunity to attend college, if that is their choice.

A key part of the Community Schools, Thriving Students strategic plan is tending to the needs of the whole child. During this period of fiscal instability, Jody is proud that Oakland has maintained art, music, and other enrichment programs that have been eliminated in other districts. Oakland has had a school music program since 1868! Jody supported a requirement that increases the amount of instructional time in science for elementary schools, and the creation of a corridor focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for schools in West Oakland, an area historically underserved by the education system.