Popular Movements and Education Policy

In addition to federal, state, and local governments, popular movements also shape education policy. You learned about an example of this in Module 5. The establishment of Ethnic Studies at both the secondary and post-secondary levels happened because people organized and built popular support that pressured school boards and university administrations to develop policies that led to the establishment of programs like Tucson's Mexican-American Studies Program as well as Black Studies, Asian-American Studies, and Chicano Studies.

We are currently witnessing examples of this all over the country as people organize to pressure for policies that reform policing. Recently, the Black Organizing Project in Oakland worked with the local teacher's union, faith leaders, and community-based organizations to pressure the Oakland School Board to defund the OUSD School Police.

To learn more about how popular movements and community organizing shape policy in schools, we turn to Oakland. As you watch the video below, take notes using the following guiding questions:

1. What arguments did the community make for the change in policy?

2. How did community organizing play a role in this change?

Protesters At Oakland Rally Demand End To Policing In Oakland Schools

OPTIONAL READING: If you would like to learn more about the development of this policy and the work of the Black Organizing Project, consider reading one of the articles below. This is optional, but highly encouraged!

Oakland Unified School District votes to replace police with mental health staff.

District police eliminated from Oakland schools: Board votes to abolish agency