VOTER GUIDE
NO ENDORSEMENT ON PROP G
Student Success Fund
This proposition creates a special, $60 million-per-year fund and a grant application process for schools in the San Francisco Unified School District system, where certain schools can apply for $1 million grants, which would last 15 years. We know many students are in dire need of services, but we cannot support the bureaucratic barriers, including more reliance on external nonprofits, that this proposition will require in order for certain schools to get money they deserve. Additionally, we believe that the money this fund sets aside could be better spent to directly address the district’s critical issues: a drop-off in enrollment, poor literacy rates, and a massive $125 million budgetary hole. We’re not going to vote no on G because it is, ultimately, money for kids—but we don’t support it structurally.
The Context
Many of San Francisco’s schools rely on nonprofit community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide critical services like after-school care or enrichment and food programs. Schools that operate with this structure are called “Community Schools.”
This measure would enable Community Schools to apply for grants from a special fund to continue receiving services from the CBOs. It would also allow other schools to apply to become Community Schools.
While we agree that SFUSD schools should be infused with much-needed funds, we are concerned that this funding is restricted in a way that prevents it from being used to provide long term solutions for all schools to meet the needs of their students. We believe the money would be better spent to fix the myriad of issues SFUSD faces, including a crippling deficit of $125 million.
We understand why the City does not trust SFUSD with unrestricted funds. The district has been terribly mismanaged and completely unaccountable to students, families, voters, and taxpayers. But enshrining a complicated funding program in our City’s charter by putting it to voters isn’t the answer. Nuanced funding programs that require further rule development will inherently need to be amended and should be flexible. No voter is going to read through the complicated program specifics nor will any of us know if outcomes improve as a result of these funds. There is no reason this fund could not be passed legislatively by the Board of Supervisors.
The Money
The only type of grant that would be offered to Community Schools through this charter amendment would be $1 million grants, offered once per year for each school, that would renew annually for 15 years.
The money to fund this would be drawn from excess property tax (ERAF) money that would otherwise be redistributed to the city.
Support & Opposition
This Charter Amendment was crafted by Supervisor Ronen and unanimously supported by the Board of Supervisors.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.
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