Prop
49
As the new
school year starts for many of us, OCASA would like to provide an update on
Prop 49 and how we anticipate it could be implemented this year. This message
is divided into 4 main sections:
At many
places in this somewhat lengthy email, I'll be asking for your input and ideas.
Please do contact me at you convenience.
The latest
information we have is still indicating that the OUSD will be applying for Prop
49 funds for all OUSD elementary and middle schools (and some charter schools
still being determined) in this school year, with anticipated program implementation beginning in JANUARY 2007.
The exact timeline from the state is still unclear and we will share
information as it becomes available. A meeting is being hosted by Senator Torlakson, Assemblymember Chan,
and the Bay Area Partnership for Children and Youth, September 14 that should
also clarify the state process. Information about this meeting will be
forwarded via separate email.
To prepare
principals, especially those who do not have afterschool
programs funded by OFCY, ASES or 21st Century, the OUSD SUCCESS office is
planning a series of 3 "boot
camps" for principals that will be held in September and
October. The dates of these camps are still being finalized.
At some
point during the boot camp process, OCASA would like to hold a partnership meeting that gets
principals, community based organizations and others (such as foundations, OFCY
and other public organizations) together to continue building partnerships. If
you have recommendations for invitees, dates and meeting format, or would like
to be involved in planning such an event, please let me know.
Also this
fall, we anticipate and will be advocating for the opening of a special round
of OFCY funding to
support Prop 49 implementation in the 2007-2008 school year. (Described in
greater detail below)
OCASA has
been working with multiple partners to help meet the anticipated workforce needs that Prop 49 will
create and is tentatively planning a mid-November job
recruitment fair. More details about this effort will be forthcoming this
week.
Best Guess
calendar:
BUILDING
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS
As part of OCASA's efforts to build partnerships, we surveyed
community based organizations and others, asking you to complete
profiles describing your services and indicating with which schools
you might be interested in working. At the end of the 2005-2006 school year, the OUSD SUCCESS office sent principals the results of
those surveys. Over the summer, a few more organizations responded and the
latest results have been shared with the SUCCESS office. They are online here:
Afterschool
Directory- http://www.oaklandafterschool.org/AfterSchoolDirectoryTemporary.htm
Supplemental
survey-http://www.oaklandafterschool.org/SupplementalSurveyResults.htm
We
encourage you to view those documents, get in touch with each other, and to
share with OCASA any contacts you have made with school principals and leaders,
so that we may help facilitate the process. Within the next week, we anticipate
updating the school list and will be asking organizations to again fill out or
update their profiles.
The
further revised results will be shared with principals and school leaders,
most likely during the 2nd or 3rd OUSD boot camp. It probably makes most sense
for you to contact individual schools and principals at that point. As before,
OCASA will share as much information as we can about the content and timing of
OUSD SUCCESS office's contact with principals. We will also share information
we have about school contacts and particular school interests.
As
mentioned in the timeline overview, we are also hoping to create a gathering of
principals, organizations and others sometime in September or October that will
allow individuals to meet each other and continue to build partnerships. We
encourage your thoughts on such a gathering.
OFCY (
In June and
July, OCASA met with OFCY and OUSD representatives to advocate for the release
of special funds to support Prop 49 implementation, based on our successful
lobbying effort to have the city repay $3.14 million in money owed the Fund.
These were productive and hopeful meetings.
Given the
delays to Prop 49 implementation, we do not expect any special OFCY funds
to be available for the 2006-2007 school year. We do
have reason to believe that a special round of funding will eventually be
announced for the 2007-2008 school year. At present, OCASA is planning to
request that approximately $50,000-75,000 per school be made available for
40-50 schools (who do not currently have OFCY funding). Under discussion and
different than past years, schools would be able to apply directly and we
anticipate that some schools might apply as clusters. Community based
organizations will still be able to apply, and OCASA will be working to support
the formation of as many partnerships as possible. We also will be advocated
for an OFCY proposal due date that aligns with the partnership-building
calendar outlined above (i.e. not due directly after winter vacation).
Please note
that this is conjectural and no commitments have been made, but I want to
provide as complete information as I can in order to get your feedback. In
particular, please tell us (by replying directly to me) if you agree or
have suggestions about: (1) the effort to spread
possible new OFCY funds broadly to schools without existing OFCY
funding, (2) the option to allow schools to apply directly, and (3)
suggested proposal due dates.
OTHER
OCASA has
also been working to identify and meet training, technical assistance and mentorship needs for
the afterschool community. Thank you to the
organizations who have completed the recent
Professional Practice survey. We hope this week to be able to provide more
details about upcoming plans.
We also
intend to hold a general OCASA
membership meeting in September or October. If there are
specific issues you would like to see addressed at that meeting, please let me
know.
Finally,
the implementation of Prop 49 for elementary and middle schools is expected to
lead to changes in 21st Century funding,
making available additional resources at the high school level. We are
following this development and anticipate bringing together high school community
members soon.
If you are
not yet, but would like to be, a dues-paying OCASA member, please visit http://www.oaklandafterschool.org/JoinOCASA.html.
As always,
I welcome your questions and suggestions
best
regards,
Jeff
Abramson
Interim
Director, OCASA