New legislation in California will allow school districts, such as Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), to consider the "financial and academic impact" when approving or denying applications for new charter schools. OUSD has been in fiscal distress in the past and faces fiscal challenges that continue to play out in classrooms across the city. Teachers and families are right to want solutions, but independent reviews show that charter schools are not the primary cause of Oakland's troubles. Indeed, as described in this brief, enrollment in the district's schools has stabilized and revenues are at historic highs. The authors explore evidence related to the causes of OUSD's financial crisis and why previous efforts to right the ship have failed. With a renewed focus, can Oakland reorient itself as a system of schools--with charter schools and the larger community as partners--that will attract families back to the city and help stabilize OUSD finances? This brief points to a possible path forward.