Does Expect Success translate into expect high test scores? Expect children to show up every day? Expect a child to be able to learn something new every day even if they have achieved nearly 100% on their grade’s tests? Expect Oakland Unified to have teachers and school staff in every school at the beginning of each school year?

For those parents who get their kid to school on time, every school day, fed, fully rested, with all required school materials (backpacks, notebooks, et.), who have read for 1/2 hour a day, had a family meal, reviewed every paper, booklet, report card and communication, basically the family has done everything the school district has asked for, including volunteering over 20 hours per month – are you going to Expect Success from yourselves as well – teachers will offer deeper curriculum for those students who have shown they have mastered the current curriculum – integrate Geography into every grade, have enough language classes so that our kids who are working ahead can learn more?

What I feel like when I see “Expect Success” is that OUSD wants to be able to ask for more (time, money, effort, top-down communication from the school district to the families with the exception of the once per year survey where you want to hear we are satisfied or highly satisfied) and expect more from families and the community and for that they will feel successful when they get what they are asking for.

I ask of you Alice, and the School Board, if I give everything you ask for, what is OUSD willing to give our family through Expect Success?