The Oakland Children’s Initiative (Measure AA) is a 2018 Charter Amendment passed by the citizens of Oakland to deepen our early investment in children and support them through college graduation, by dramatically expanding access to high quality preschool and providing college access, mentorship, and scholarship support services for students to obtain 4-year or 2-year college or technical degrees. It will leverage approximately $30 million in annual revenue to dramatically expand access to and the quality of preschool, as well as significantly increase college enrollment and college graduation rates. Approximately ⅔ of the funds raised by Measure AA will support early childhood education and approximately ⅓ of the funds will support college access and persistence support.
The Measure establishes the Childrens’ Initiative Oversight Commission to be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council to provide oversight, accountability, and analysis for the distribution of funds and execution of programming.
Membership Qualifications - the Oversight Commission shall include the following members
1. At least 1 member with professional expertise in early childhood education policy
2. At least 1 member with professional expertise in, or who is a provider of, early childhood care or education;
3. At least 1 member with at least 2 years of experience teaching in early childhood education;
4. At least 1 member with at least two 2 years of experience teaching TK-12, or who has professional expertise in TK-12 education or college access;
5. At least 1 member with professional expertise in college completion, college or university leadership, or support for traditionally underrepresented college students;
6. At least 1 member with experience in budgeting, auditing, finance, or early asset building;
7. At least 1 member of a union or labor advocacy group who is employed by the City of Oakland Head Start, the Oakland Unified School District, or a participating early care and education provider;
8. At least 1 homeowner who is subject to the parcel tax imposed by Section 5 of the Act;
9. At least 1 parent, who presently has, or has had within 5 years from the time of appointment, a child of preschool age who attended a preschool program benefiting from public subsidy, or who was on a waitlist for such a program; and
10. At least 1 member who is, or who within 5 years from the time of appointment was, enrolled in an Oakland public school, or who has graduated from an Oakland public school and enrolled in college within 5 years from the time of appointment, or who is the first in their immediate family to graduate from College.
The Children's Initiative Oversight Commissions shall meet at least XX times per year.
Members must take Oath of Office and submit Conflict of Interest Filings (Form 700) at the time of assuming office, annually by April 1, and within 30 days of separation from this body.