Focused on high academic achievement while serving the whole child, eliminating inequity, and providing each child with excellent teachers, every day. Our Strategic Plan In June 2020, the Oakland Unified School District renewed our commitment to a future in which all OUSD children and educators—regardless of their background or their circumstances—have the opportunity to reach their highest potential. From the unprecedented and disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Brown communities and uprisings against systemic racism throughout the country and world, there are reminders everywhere we look that we are far from this vision of equity. Oakland is no exception to this reality, but our community is resilient; and in times of great uncertainty and seemingly insurmountable challenges, our beloved city has never let up. Inspired by the legacy we stand in, OUSD has crafted a strategic plan around four initiatives that will ensure all students have equitable access to the tools they need to succeed within and beyond school walls. Collaborative partnership with our community was the foundation of our journey to create these plans; we centered the concerns of families and listened to diverse voices in order to deepen our understanding and widen the perspectives informing our work to create a vibrant and just OUSD. Our Four Initiatives Ensuring Strong Readers by the Third Grade: Accelerating Citywide Efforts to Guarantee Literacy for all Third Graders Supporting Empowered Graduates: Developing Essential Skills to Secure Post-Secondary Success Creating Joyful Schools: Reimagining Schools to be Places of Joy, Inclusion, and Beauty Growing a Diverse and Stable Staff: Attracting and Retaining Staff Reflective of Oakland’s Rich Diversity