By Pelaji Kyauka

School districts are required by the No Child Left Behind law to provide free tutoring to students enrolled in schools identified as Program Improvement schools.

The services must be designed to help socioeconomically disadvantaged students to increase their academic performance. In addition, the services are required to be high-quality and researched-based.

The Oakland unified school district board has approved many providers of supplemental education services (SES) for the schools that are in their second and above Program Improvement status.

Interestingly, in their attempt to avoid being non-compliant of the No Child Left Behind law, the Oakland school board revealed the school district’s leadership turmoil. The inability to supervise and evaluate the SES.

The November 8, 2010 school board minutes seem to suggest the Oakland school board is not sure whether the SES organizations they approved meet the required standards or can provide the services.

During the meeting, Director Kakishiba requested information about assessment of the effectiveness of the SES providers, but the information was not provided.

Furthermore, Director Spearman questioned accreditation of the SES providers, but no records were given although such information is provided by the CA department of education.

Director Kakishiba is reported as saying, “Oakland has a reputation of being the place to be to make cash. Surrounding districts do not have that. Somehow they have been able to create a firewall.”

One can only conclude the obvious lack of knowledge about the SES providers and their effectiveness is alarming, and contributing to the district’s budget crisis.