Delivering a Solid Public School Education That Puts Children First
San Francisco is failing its public school students. We’re at the bottom five percent of California school districts when it comes to literacy. Math proficiency has plunged—most alarmingly among economically disadvantaged students and students of color.
The District has tinkered so much with the complex lottery system that no one can agree on what’s fair and equitable. While surrounding school systems devoted themselves to reopening their doors post lockdown, our Board Of Education spent months debating whether George Washington and Paul Revere were too toxic to still have schools named after them. Even more shocking: In February 2021, the board’s then-president suggested that students shut out of their classrooms for nearly a year hadn’t suffered any great loss to their education—instead, they were merely having “different learning experiences” at home.
Parents are losing faith in the system, resulting in declining enrollment and inequitable outcomes as those with means turn to private schools, and those without are stuck in our under-resourced public education system, with underpaid teachers, and a board that emphasizes children last rather than first.
The Way it is Now
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Decreased Enrollment
Over the past two years, the district has lost 3,000 students, with many families deciding to leave the city for good in search of a better education for their kids. 25% of students in San Francisco are enrolled in private schools, which is much higher than the state's average of 9%.
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Declining Test Scores
The pandemic accelerated the decline in proficiency rates across a broad spectrum: African American students’ math proficiency dropped from 46% to 38%; Latinx students from 54% to 48%; Anglo students from 84% to 78%; and Asian students from 85% to 77%.
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Ignoring the Fundamentals
San Francisco, a city with a rich literary tradition, now has the shameful distinction of having a school district that ranks in the bottom 5% for literacy in the state.
3 Keys to a Future We Want to See
A Board That is Actually Unified
San Francisco Unified board members work together with urgency on the issues that matter most and put students above political posturing, restoring the public’s faith in the system.
Focusing on Those in Need
The school district has a clear and viable battle plan to close the education gap between the disadvantaged and the less disadvantaged, and is held accountable should it fall short.
Valued Teachers
District leaders value their best teachers, giving them the support and flexibility they need to excel.
