We will employ all proven best practices to ensure more children in Oakland graduate high school with the expectations, resources, and skills to complete college and succeed in the career of his or her choice. The Oakland Promise is a cradle-to-career initiative to triple the number of college graduates from Oakland within the decade. In the past, only 10% of OUSD 9th graders were earning college degrees by age 23. In 2017 we awarded 5,000 early scholarships to kindergartners, connect 3,800 middle and high school students to internships and college resources through Future Centers, and send 400 public school graduates to college with more than $3 million in multi-year scholarships, as well as with persistence supports like peer support groups and personal mentors. I will fight to see that the Oakland Promise’s vision is fulfilled for every public school student.
