Five years after the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) pledged reparations for Black students, critics argue that the initiative has not met its objectives, resulting in unchanged academic outcomes. The school board adopted the "Reparations for Black Students" resolution in March 2021, which established a 24-member Black Thriving Task Force tasked with developing a five-year plan to close the opportunity gap for Black students by 2026.
However, former task force members indicated that the group ceased meetings after about a year due to internal conflicts and changes in district leadership. Kevin Hill, a former member, expressed frustration, stating, "It was as if we all got together and wasted our collective breath for a whole year." The initial effort faced disagreements over school closures and the role of district officials in the reparations work.
The resolution aimed to create a "Black Thriving Fund" to recruit Black educators, expand a Black-centered curriculum, mandate anti-racism training for staff, and enhance outreach to families. In the 2018–19 school year, data indicated that while Black students made up 22% of OUSD enrollment, they represented 57% of all suspensions. Additionally, Black students with Special Education Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) were nine times more likely to be suspended than their peers.
Despite the initial goals, current data shows that Black students continue to have the lowest proficiency rates in math and English within the district. By 2025, approximately 46% of Black students were chronically absent, and nearly 10% had faced suspensions. The district's reparations webpage has not been updated since 2021, public meetings have stopped, and Black student enrollment has decreased to below 20%, down from nearly half two decades ago.
In 2023, a smaller version of the task force was revived, shifting focus to targeted family engagement and support systems at 11 designated "Black Thriving Schools." While some educators report ongoing efforts, others believe the district has not fulfilled its public commitments. OUSD spokesperson John Sasaki stated that the task force is active and focused on supporting Black student achievement and well-being.