Earlier this month Oakland Unified School District emailed families their offers of enrollment and, according to historical data, up to a third of Oakland families will leave the district in search of a better option.

In advance of the offers, Equity Allies for OUSD asserted in an email to its subscribers: “As families enroll their students outside of district schools, they strip Oakland public schools of millions of dollars in revenue - money that could be used to hire staff, improve facilities and expand programs - impacting all students.” This sentiment unfortunately places blame on parents for a system’s shortcomings, while parents do not control the district’s use of funds. Instead, parents’ decisions should be respected and supported.

The ability to choose the best school for their children gives parents agency – the sense that their actions will affect their outcomes. School choice is not self-interested.  Parents with a greater sense of agency and empowerment are more likely to step up and lead in their schools and in their communities, while children who are in learning environments more suitable to their own needs have better outcomes. Doing research is an exercise of care, and many parents do still choose charter or district schools. As the last line of the Equity Allies for OUSD email states: “Our choices matter and how we approach these decisions and educational advocacy matter.”

Equity Allies for OUSD’s concerns about educational equity are real. Its commitment to the whole community and the vibrancy of Oakland as a multicultural, multiracial city is commendable and its effort to highlight lesser-known schools in OUSD and the amazing things happening every day is excellent. Its encouragement to keep an open mind and to consider options broadly is well-intended.

However, the solution for any district is not to guilt the parents who need to make the best choices for their children. The solution is at the district level, with a focus on the needs of children rather than systems, on efficiency and transparency, on inclusion and diversity in the schools with highest demand.