Read or listen to the full episode transcript from KQED’s MindShift here.
“Students at OIHS drop out at nearly half the rate that newcomers students do at other Oakland high schools. The school’s success comes largely from the community school model, which co-locates essential services on campus, ensuring easy access for students and families. The model adheres to the principle of “Maslow before Bloom,” which suggests that students must have their basic needs met before they can fully engage in learning. “If someone has an abscessed tooth, they’re not going to be able to focus on math,” Markham said. “And if someone has a pending deportation hearing and no immigration lawyer, they’re not going to be working on their group project.” OIHS has leveraged the community school model to build a comprehensive support system, providing food, medical, legal, and mental health services, so that newcomer students can not only adapt but thrive in their new environment.”