Funding for violence intervention in schools at risk

"But the city only committed funding through the current 2025-2026 school year, and city leaders made it clear that this was a pilot program they would support for the first few years and then hand over to the district to build into its budget or seek outside funding. That funding cliff has arrived just as OUSD navigates a serious budget deficit and needs to trim $100 million from next year's budget."

"For nearly four years, the city of Oakland, through its Department of Violence Prevention, has funded violence interruption and prevention teams at several OUSD high schools with lower graduation rates and higher rates of chronic absenteeism, including at Castlemont High School, Fremont High School, McClymonds High School, Dewey Academy, Ralph Bunche Academy, and Rudsdale High School. After notable results in the first year, including a reduction in suspensions for violence,"

The city of Oakland funded violence interruption and prevention teams in multiple OUSD high schools for nearly four years via the Department of Violence Prevention. Teams included a violence interrupter, life coach, and gender-based violence specialist. After initial success including reduced suspensions, OUSD expanded teams to Skyline and Oakland Technical for 2024-25. City funding runs through 2025-26 as a pilot, with the city expecting the district to assume costs or find outside funding. OUSD faces a $100 million budget cut requirement. School communities worry program loss will weaken the district's multifaceted safety approach and undermine violence prevention gains.

Read at The Oaklandside