Education

New school lunch waiver seen as hurdle for hungry kids

For the first time in the Oakland Unified School District’s history, parents of all low-income children eligible to receive a free or reduced lunch must apply for the program by February 6 — or the system could lose government subsidies for the next school year.

Oakland barbers give school kids a literal head start

Oakland barbers pitched in with free haircuts and backpacks to give kids a literal head start for the first day of school. The event at the E Cuts salon in Temescal was one of a group of back-to-school events to help ease low income families into fall and display community good will.

American Indian Model Schools to remain open

Despite facing an FBI probe and losing its accreditation, American Indian Model Schools (AIMS), a nationally lauded charter school, will remain open at least until the end of the 2014 school year. On Friday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo granted the school a preliminary injunction, ruling that the Oakland Unified School District made an error by not acknowledging the school’s academic success before revoking its charter. AIMS has three campuses in Oakland, and the ruling by Judge Grillo…

Alameda County school board faces decision on American Indian Model Schools

The Alameda County Board of Education will rule on Tuesday whether to reverse a decision that revoked the academic accreditation of a nationally lauded charter school system. American Indian Model Schools operates three schools in Oakland, spanning kindergarten through high school. It lost its status in March after a 4-3 vote by the Oakland Unified School District.