Oakland Schools Address Low Graduation Rate

OAKLAND (KCBS)- Concerned citizens, educators, and parents gathered for a youth and family conference in East Oakland to chart a course for Oakland public schools.

The Oakland Unified School District is on a five-year-plan to improve the 40 percent high-school graduation rate.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

Rob Jackson with Oakland Kids First does leadership development in five different high schools, including Reach Academy.

"Getting the families and communities involved, I think, that's very crucial, but also it's just peers motivating each other. I think that's a big solution that we're missing," said Jackson.

Toni McElroy, principal of Barack Obama Academy, noted that parental involvement tends to drop off after elementary school, a time of transition when kids may need more support.

"The biggest challenge is to making sure that kids are engaged in rigorous education," said McElroy.

"We can't have kids leaving elementary school who are unable to read and don't have the skills for middle school," said one parent, Stacy Smith, who has two sons in Oakland schools.

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