Policy & Advocacy
Oakland Starting Smart and Strong leverages the power of our collaborative’s stakeholders to advocate for policies that build and improve the systems that support Oakland children, families, and early childhood educators most impacted by racial and economic inequity.
Additional information on our policy and advocacy work can be found in our blog posts. |
With support from the Hellman Foundation, OSSS is building a community-driven policy agenda, grounded in these equity areas:
We invite you to read OSSS's recommendations on centering equity in early care and education and on the potential implications of UTK in Oakland.
All of our policy and advocacy work is grounded racial justice. Read our racial justice statement here.
- Systems change for Oakland’s youngest learners
- Advocate for long-term public investment in early childhood systems
- Elevate early childhood as a priority in City government and Oakland Unified School District
- Parent and family leadership in community investment
- Listen to parent, family, & community leadership in equitable implementation of publicly-funded early childhood education
- Leverage data in support of community priorities
- Equity for early childhood professionals and friend/family/neighbor caregivers
- Increase access to high-quality training, improved pay and working conditions, supplies, and resources
- Amplifying Family Child Care (FCC) provider leadership in local advocacy
We invite you to read OSSS's recommendations on centering equity in early care and education and on the potential implications of UTK in Oakland.
All of our policy and advocacy work is grounded racial justice. Read our racial justice statement here.
In 2023-24 OSSS's policy priorities are:
Learn more about our policy agenda by downloading it here or scroll down to view the Scribd embed below.
- Equitable Oakland Children’s Initiative, Measure C, and Universal PreK/TK policy implementation within Oakland
- Uplifting early childhood as a priority in Oakland city government and school district
- Supporting Oakland early childhood educator/provider advocacy goals
Learn more about our policy agenda by downloading it here or scroll down to view the Scribd embed below.
2023-25 Oakland City Budget & Early Childhood:
- Read about early childhood and the 2023-25 city budget here.
- As the City of Oakland implements the 23-25 Budget, this report from OSSS highlights priority areas that help increase access and opportunities for all young children and families in Oakland to realize their full potential.