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OCCCO community leaders joined others from PICO CA to visit the LA Unified School District to learn about their innovative small autonomous schools movement.  This movement came from a breakthrough agreement between the teachers union and LAUSD to create a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) that gave charter-like governance structure to local schools, opening the door for community and parents to have voice at table and have more local, school-site control and decision-making power.  The all-day research event sat leaders down with the teacher’s union, the coalition of community groups that led the effort, and the Superintendent’s office.  OCCCO leaders will continue to research how this model may benefit local Orange County students and schools. 

To learn more, contact Miguel Hernandez at miguel@occcopico.org, or at (714) 470-8178.
 
 
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The quality of our kids' education has a direct impact on their quality of life.  In Orange County, only 50% of residents have a high school degree, and high school drop out rates are trending upward.

In Santa Ana, six persistently low-performing schools have been identifed for the state's turnaround program.  Parents at Immaculate Heart of Mary are determined to get involved and improve their kids' schools.

To this end, OCCCO organized a 1,400-person healing mass where over 1,200 prayers were offered to God.  The Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent committed to work with OCCCO leaders to improve local schools through increased parent engagement.

Contact Miguel for more info: 714-470-8178.
 
 
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‎1,400 people, along with Superintendent Jane Russo, participated in a special healing mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church - over 1,200 prayers were offered - the focus was to increase parent involvement in six of Santa Ana's persistently low-performing schools.
 
 
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After eight years of hard work and a huge victory for affordable housing, St. Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim is focusing its attention on the serious budget cuts affecting Anaheim City Schools.  With no nurses, no librarians, no vice principals, no psychologists, and few custodians, the future of Anaheim’s kids is imperiled.  At a January 2010 forum focused on cuts to Anaheim’s school districts, Eduardo and Patricia Leon shared a testimony about their daughter with asthma - whose very life is at risk with no nurses around to give quick treatment to their daughter.  The St. Boniface Local Organizing Ministry will meet with district leaders, principals, members of the State Assembly and others to explore ways to protect children’s education, safety, future.