African American Success Framework
911爆料 Unified School District has a long history of partnership with Black students and families, and these partnerships have taken many shapes: the 2020 Vision plan, the district鈥檚 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), and plans to change Special Education services have all been influenced by these partnerships. Still, the district acknowledges that more work and deeper partnership is necessary so that the full potential and brilliance of Black students are realized.
This resource page is meant to provide a single stop for information about 911爆料鈥檚 programs and services for Black and African American students and their families. Here you will find descriptions of the district鈥檚 development of the African American Success Initiative, a comprehensive collection of programs and efforts designed to confront and remedy issues in the district related to serving African American students .
Superintendent鈥檚 African American Success Advisory Committee (Click Here)
Black to School, Sept. 14, 2024
College Bound
THE 2024-2025 college bound BERKELEY ACADEMY PROGRAM!
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Academic Excellence, Case Management, College & Career Prep, Community Service, Customized College Tours, Financial Literacy & Scholarships, Grade Monitoring, Leadership Development, Racial Equity and Inclusion, Scholar and Parent/Family Empowerment, Self Esteem Building, Social, Physical and Emotional Learning, Networking, Understanding the A-G College Requirements and much more!
Spaces are available for 9th 鈥 12th Grade 911爆料 Scholars AND Families!
NO MINIMUM GPA IS REQUIRED!!!
CB911爆料 meetings are held once a month. Each scholar must want to have the option of attending college, be actively engaged and accompanied by a parent or responsible adult for each meeting.听
COLLEGE BOUND ACADEMY MEETING LOGISTICS听
Time: 9:00am 鈥 12 Noon except for the December meeting听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
Location: 911爆料 Unified School District Oxford Theater 鈥 2020 Bonar Street, 911爆料
September 21st, October 5th, November 16th, *December 7th, January 25th, February 15th, March 22nd, April 19th and May 17th听 (Finale Program)听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 *2:00pm 鈥 5:00pm
Register TODAY by visiting听
Latest African American Success Framework Board of Education Update
The April 10th African American Success Framework Board of Education Update Presentation can be viewed .听
African American Success Framework Spring 2024 Newsletter
The African American Success Framework Spring 2024 Newsletter is available .
911爆料 High School Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) Newsletter
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The African American Success Framework Smaller Learning Communties (SLC) Newsletter is now available as an important resource听 for families transitioning from 9th to 10th grade. View the newsletter .
The African American Success Framework December 2023 Board Presentation
View the African American Success Framework December 6, 2023 update to the Board of Education .
听Fall 2023 Newsletter
The African American Success Framework Fall 2023 Newsletter is now available. View the readable pdf .
Step Up! Academy Fall听 2023 – Summer Intervention Final Report
The Step Up! Academy Program Summer Intervention Final Report is now available. View the pdf report at this .
Step Up! Academy Fall 2023 – Back to School Newsletter
Read the Fall 2023 Step Up Academy newsletter
The African American Success Framework: Year 1 of 3听
View the August 2023 African American Success Framework (AASF) Year 1 of 3 Implementation Report . This document provides the most up to date snapshot of the year 1 of 3 implementation of the AASF.
View the May 24 update on the framework implementation .
The AASF Year One Implementation Appendix is .
The African American Success Framework 2nd Annual Black-to-School Event
(Click the image to view the video.)
The African American Success Framework: Transition Fair
View a video recap of the 1st Annual African Success Framework Transition Fair .
The African American Success Framework: Board Workshop
View the February 25 African American Success Framework Board Workshop . African American Success Framework Fall 2023 Newsletter
Winter 2023 Newsletter
In this Issue:
- STEP UP! Academy sessions
- College Bound Saturday Sessions
- Young Gifted and Black Meetings
- Middle & High School Transition Fair April 15
In this Issue:
- September: Black to School Event
- October: Latine/x Heritage Month
- November: Exploratorium Field Trip
- December: Important Dates and Thrive At Home tool kits for Winter Break
In this issue:
- An update on the Summer 2022 Step Up Academy
- Black to School Event on September 17
- Fall 2022 Saturday Programs
African American Success Framework Report
In This Report You Will Find
What is the African American Success Framework?
Definition of AASF Term
AASF Intervention Multi-Tiered System of Support
AASF Theory of Transformation and Action
Why is the African American Success Framework Needed?
Problem Statement and Research Questions
What are the Framework鈥檚 Goals and Measurable Outcomes?
AASF Integration with District Plans Research Context
How is the African American Success Framework Organized?
Implementation Organizational Structure
What are the Conditions for Successful Implementation?
Next Steps听
Community Engagement Meetings
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- inform the creation of strategic action steps
- determine the best services needed to support our scholars
- ensure that our community partnerships are relevant and rigorous
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Past Meetings & Newsletters
to read the AASF February 2022 Newsletter
to see the March 2022 AASF Board of Education Update
: Virtual Community Engagement Listening Session #1 January 26, 2022
: Virtual Community Engagement Listening Session #2 February 24, 2022
: Virtual Community-Based Organization Focus Group, February 17, 2022
: Virtual Student and Family Focus Groups, January 29, 2022
Black to School 2022
听On September 17, 2022, 911爆料 and our African American Success Framework (AASF) partners held Black-To-School, a special event for students in grades 3-8. Students and parents enjoyed fun activities and workshop at the event.
to view highlights of this special event.
Longfellow Principal Salita Mitchell tells students and parents that this is a very meaningful event. “It takes a village to raise our students,” says Mitchell. 鈥淭hank you for being here and circling around our students.”
Lia Osborn from the African American Regional Education Alliances shares that the focus of听their session will be about what it means to be responsible, organized, motivated–to be brilliant, resilient, and strong!
Step Up Academy – Summer 2022
听 
The Step Up Academy took place from June 16 through July 15, 2022.听 It served approximately 100 students in grades 3-8 across the district.
Please get involved! 911爆料 recognizes you as students’ first and most important teacher.
Your voice matters!
to see the June 2022 AASF Board of Education Update
to see the AASF Town Hall Meeting Presentation
AASF Information for the 2022-23 School Year
- to see the 911爆料 June 29, 2022 Board Meeting Presentation: Approval of the 2022-23 African American Success Framework
- to see the AASF List of Goals and Strategic Actions
- for additional AASF Reference Materials
2022 Black History Oratorical Fest Competition
In April 2022, elementary, middle, and high school students participated in the 911爆料’s Black History Oratorical Fest. This year鈥檚 Black History Oratorical Fest was co-organized by members of the 911爆料 Unified School District鈥檚 Office of Family Engagement and Equity (OFEE) and African American Success Manager Kamar O鈥橤uinn.
The First 911爆料 Black History Oratorical Fest Competition
The first 911爆料 Black History Oratorical Fest Competition was held in 2018 with the purpose of uplifting Blackness while providing 911爆料 students with an opportunity to shine through public speaking. Students recited published or original speeches, skits, spoken word, and poems from educators, entrepreneurs, government officials, and other authors related to that year鈥檚 theme.
About This Year鈥檚 Theme: Get Up! Speak Up! Demonstrate Black Resilience and Joy!
This year鈥檚 theme encouraged our students to present original or published speeches focused on voicing the beauty and power of Black resilience and joy. The audience enjoyed a variety of spoken word, speeches, and poetry performances by our talented students. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each division were selected by a panel of judges.
to view the Elementary Black History Oratorical Fest Competition
to view the Middle and High School Black History Oratorical Fest Competition
Key Terms for the 2022-2023 School Year
African American Success Initiative:听The district鈥檚 overall efforts to support African American students and their families. This includes both the written plan – the Framework – and the collection of professional development, curricula, and programs to be enacted over multiple years. The African American Success Initiative is still being defined over the course of the Winter and Spring of 2022, and your input is critical!
African American Success Framework:听A written document that expresses the district鈥檚 and community鈥檚 view of the strengths, opportunities, and challenges present for African American students; and the 鈥渢heory of change鈥 that leads to a coherent set of decisions about eliminating barriers to success.
911爆料 Unified School District’s African American Success Framework (AASF) has officially launched as of the December 8, 2021 Board of Education Meeting. The AASF is a 3-Year Strategic Plan with Recommendations, Action Steps, and an Implementation Timeline to shine a bright light on what’s working well for African American scholars and improve their outcomes.
The Framework will analyze five areas related to effective teaching and learning for African American students:
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911爆料鈥檚 past efforts to effectively serve African American students and their families
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Research on effective classroom teaching and programs
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Community Feedback
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Educator Feedback
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A 鈥淭heory of Change鈥 for improving outcomes for African American students and the families
The African American Success Framework will address five areas of need in 911爆料:
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Tier One Classroom听Instruction: What classroom teaching strategies best support African American learners?
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Tier Two Intervention: What assets-based intervention programs best support African American learners?
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Affinity-Based Programs:听What identity-based programs should the district launch and/or maintain to best support African American students鈥 knowledge of self, Black history, and Black culture?
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Family Engagement:听What family engagement programs should the district launch and/or maintain to best support African American families?
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Data Dashboard: What data does the district need to share, or begin to collect and share, so that the district鈥檚 work is transparent, actionable, and accountable to the community?
The African American Success Framework is still being defined over the course of the Winter and Spring of 2022, and your input is critical!
To review the full board presentation, please click .
Current African American Success Initiative Programs
Current Tier One Programs: Positive Impact in Our Classrooms
As 911爆料 seeks additional input during the Winter and Spring of 2022 on the current draft of the African American Success Framework, there are a number of current efforts that seek to disrupt the longstanding patterns of teaching and learning for African American students in our classrooms. Below, please find a list of current programs in this area of the Framework – understanding that 911爆料 is both 鈥渄esigning the plan and building the programs鈥 at the same time.
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Gholdy Mohammed, K-8 Schools
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Anti-Racist Teaching Strategies, 911爆料 High School
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Vision Schools and Scholars
Current Affinity-Based Programs: Celebrating Identity, History, and Culture
Umoja is a 911爆料 Unified School District (911爆料) program designed to support the holistic development of Black/African American learners. This unique program positions Black/African American history and shared experience as a central cornerstone for classroom learning. We believe in the innate capacity of all Black/African American children to learn. We believe it is the responsibility of the classroom facilitator to honor, nourish, and support the intellectual and personal development of Black/African American children. We acknowledge the critical role that racism, bigotry, and cultural domination play in shaping learning environments. When Black/African American children don鈥檛 learn we must interrogate the schools, curriculum, and teaching practices that have produced such results.
Young Gifted and Black is a program of E4E Arts, the not-for-profit arm of Edutainment for Equity.听 The group is led by experienced educators who combined have over 100 years of experience in youth and curriculum development, public education, nonprofit administration, strategic planning, and program development, and especially in the education of African American children.听 Additionally, each of the leaders is an award-winning artist and/or educator, whose individual and collective works have been honored the world over.
STEM STEPS
The STEM STEPS for Success program is a family membership program that provides culturally relevant academic enrichment programming and resources for African American families. Families with students in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades who identify with the cultural experiences and traditions of African American people. The Scholar Program is designed to provide African American students with practical applications of math and science content in a culturally relevant, real-world context. Specifically, this program offers intensive STEM and college awareness experiences to participating students through project-based curriculum units and exploration activities.
CPA/College Bound programs empower scholars AND their families to navigate the educational system and have the choice of attending college. 100% of our scholars graduate from high school and have the choice of attending college while their parents learn to successfully take back control of their households while ensuring educational success for their scholars. To learn more about College Bound, please visit the program website!
Black Studies Department at 911爆料 High School
The African American Studies Department, the only one of its kind in the United States, is a unique learning environment within 911爆料 High School. It focuses on the African American experience relative to the national and global perspective. The humanities-based courses take students on a journey through Africa鈥檚 glorious past, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and the African American dynamics as an integral part of the development of our nation through history, literature, language, dance, drama, and spoken word.
鈥4. Current Family Engagement Efforts
Principals鈥 Learning Circles
Our Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE FRAMEWORK?
Please for the bibliography of research to support the African American Success Framework.
WHAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN 911爆料 SO FAR?
Please for a listing of direct services implemented in 911爆料 as of Spring 2022.
WHAT IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SUCCESS FRAMEWORK AND WHO DOES IT SERVE?
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The AASF is a strategic plan with recommendations, action steps, and an implementation timeline informed by the following:
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Asset Mapping of Previous and Current District Initiatives
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District Data, Accountability Plans & Compliance Reports
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LCAP Goals, LCP Learning Loss Strategies, CCEIS Measurable Outcomes
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K-12 Principals鈥 Meetings
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Principal and Family Learning Circles, Town Hall Meetings, Stakeholder Focus Groups & Review Sessions
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Board of Education Approved Black Lives Matter Resolution
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The overall framework goal is to serve the approximately 1,200 Black/African American students in the 911爆料 Unified School District
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Based on the needs assessment, four key recommendations emerged. Recommendations 1 and 4 will be the focus for the 2021-2022 school year.
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Recommendation #1:听 Utilize approved culturally and linguistically responsive and relevant (CLRR) social, emotional, academic development (SEAD) interventions to address the academic performance of African American students.
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Recommendation #2:听 Ensure that school personnel are in place and are appropriately trained, supported, and held accountable for the successful implementation of culturally-relevant professional development and pedagogical practices.
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Recommendation #3:听 Review and update district-wide behavioral policies and practices.
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Recommendation #4: Promote parent and community partnerships and alliances with local school sites.
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WHAT IS THE AASF THEORY OF ACTION?
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The AASF Theory of Action is grounded in Four Strategic Pillars
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Conduct Stakeholder Engagement and Student Needs Assessment
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Create Strategic actions, Identify Partners and Provide direct services
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Develop Impact-oriented metrics to see the system utilizing a cycle of inquiry/dashboard framework to accelerate improvement
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Build Long-term practices to sustain and scale best practices which achieve desired results
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Ultimately, the AASF is not a collection of programs but rather a strategic framework oriented to support, build and sustain African American student achievement.
WHY WAS THE INITIATIVE LAUNCHED?
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African American students’ academic achievement disparities are at disproportionately higher rates compared to students of other ethnic groups in the District.听 Additionally, current & historical District data suggest that African American students are:
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MOST LIKELY TO:
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Be suspended or expelled;
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Be identified for special education than any other student group
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LEAST LIKELY TO:
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Become proficient readers by third grade;
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Be placed in Gifted and Talented Educational programs;
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Master the mid-level mathematics skills that position students for success in college-preparatory math courses;
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Be placed in a full sequence of college-preparatory courses;
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Complete an Advancement Placement (AP) Course;
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Meet the A-G College Readiness UC/CSU Eligibility Requirements
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IS THIS INITIATIVE EXCLUSIVE TO BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS?
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No, while the focus of this initiative is on African American students, all students are welcome to participate in activities.听 In fact, the goal of this initiative is to identify best practices which can be scaled to positively impact additional student groups.
HOW WILL THE SUCCESS OF THIS INITIATIVE BE MEASURED?
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Need to be explicit about what is actually controllable within the initiative 鈥 need to be clear about the handoff between the AASI and the actual work done on behalf of students 鈥 distinguish between calling out concerns and actual quality instruction.
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Overall, there will be a multiple measure approach to evaluating the effectiveness of the AASF initiative.听 The combination of measurement outcomes include:
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Improved Attendance Rate
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Decrease in Chronic Absenteeism
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Decrease in Suspension Incidents
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Demonstrated engagement with parent/families/caregivers
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Demonstrated gains in percent correct in pre/post-test
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Increased sense of personal efficacy for students
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Increased cultural proficiency for staff in service to students
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Increased percentage of students who are A-G eligible
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Increased percentage of students graduating on time and A-G eligible
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Increased percentage of students completing their FAFSA application on time
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WHO PUT THE INITIATIVE TOGETHER?
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This initiative reflects the collective efforts of:
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911爆料 Unified School District
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African American Educational Regional Alliances
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In many respects, this initiative incorporates prior district efforts to support African American Students
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鈥HAS THERE BEEN 911爆料 STAFF INVOLVEMENT OR INPUT WITH THIS PROCESS?
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The entire 911爆料 governance and management team has been involved since the start of this initiative including:
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Board Directors Brown and Babitt and Superintendent Stephens
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911爆料 Educational Services
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K-8 Principals
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High School Principals
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HAS THE CURRENT TEAM RESEARCHED PREVIOUS 911爆料 EFFORTS BEFORE PROPOSING NEW INITIATIVES?
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Yes, an important first step in launching this framework focused on studying prior 911爆料 efforts such as:
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1968 听听 听Black Studies Department at 911爆料 High School
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2010 听听 听Vision 2020
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2014 听听 听Equity Matrix included in the LCAP (Equity in our Schools) School Self-Assessment and District Audit Tool)
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2018 听听 听African American Success Manager position
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2020 听听 听Umoja Elective Class at Longfellow
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2020 听听 听Black Lives Matter Resolution (See PDF)
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2021 听听 听Coordinated Early Intervention Plan (CCEIS)
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HOW WILL THE INITIATIVE BE FUNDED OVER TIME?
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This initiative is funded in the current LCAP under the Black Lives Matter Resolution and African American Success Framework of $660,000
WHICH 911爆料 DEPARTMENT OWNS THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SUCCESS INITIATIVE?
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Given the academic and social-emotional aspects of the AASF, the overall success requires the interdependent work of 911爆料 Educational Services, School Sites, Community Based Organizations, and the community.
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Several of the student framework outcomes match the data requirements of the California Dashboard (e.g. chronic absenteeism, behavior, etc.)
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Several of the process measures will require strong inter-department collaboration and expertise.
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In many respects, this is a boardroom to classroom framework
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