- The Oakland Public Schools
- About Us
About Us
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The Oakland Schools are child-focused learning centers that aim to promote high academic achievement in a supportive, challenging environment. They strive to prepare students for the 21st century, equipping them with the academic and technological skills necessary for success in future educational pursuits and professional careers. Our schools foster the development of cultural awareness and social consciousness, as they seek to develop individuals who can both relate to and contribute to the expanded global culture in which we all live. Our schools very much reflect our motto - Oakland....A Learning Community Committed to Excellence.
Free public education for all children is a cornerstone of a democratic society that values the worth and dignity of each individual. The primary goal of the Oakland Board of Education shall be to offer each child in this District the educational opportunity that will enable him/her to successfully function in a democratic society. The schools should provide all children with equal opportunity for total growth in harmony with their needs, so that they may become vocationally and economically effective; and so that they may develop cognitively, physically, emotionally and socially.
The Oakland Board of Education, as the agent responsible for the education of the children of this District, will provide a coordinated and planned educational program that incorporates into its curriculum the lessons and experiences, within and outside the classroom, that are needed to attain the educational goals of the District. The Board recognizes the need for ongoing development and updating of the instructional program, and appreciates the need for continuing professional development. The Board will also seek to employ a high caliber, well prepared staff of adequate size and with wide-ranging abilities. With a relevant and current curriculum and a competent and talented staff, the Board will strive to provide an educational system that responds to individual needs and talents while assisting each pupil to become a self-respecting individual who can function effectively in society.
The Oakland Schools hold high expectations for each child, and each student in our schools should be inspired to be the best person and student that he/she can be. Consistent with this philosophical belief, it is the expectation of the Oakland School District that all pupils will achieve the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards at all grade levels.
The entire school program should be a result of the cooperative planning and action of the school staff, the pupils, the parents, and the community, under the direction of the school administration. The Board will work cooperatively with home and community, including business and industry, as well as with school staff, in the ongoing development of the educational program.
Moreover, the Board will provide pupils and staff with adequate educational supplies, equipment, and facilities, as needs dictate and means permit.
The purpose of education in the District's schools is to facilitate the growth and development of each child toward his/her potential. The District's staff shall recognize individual differences among pupils and encourage the students' achievement and progress, not only in basic skills but, also, in the ability to think independently, critically, and creatively. The school staff shall help pupils to understand our democratic society; to believe in it and to act fairly in their relationships with others. District staff will also seek to develop in students attitudes of respect, empathy, and helpfulness toward others. Learning activities will encourage pupils to have the ability and the desire to contribute to the world, to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to do this with satisfaction, and to use effective methods in understanding questions and in solving problems.