Dear SF Public School Champion

As we close out the first half of the 2025-26 school year, we want to invite all of you to enter more deeply into the public schools conversation with us. The current news is mixed: while our district’s state rating and budget oversight have improved, SFUSD still faces major fiscal challenges (more on that below), difficult conversations about school closures, and ongoing tradeoffs around staffing and student supports—decisions that will directly impact students and families across San Francisco.

In June 2026, San Francisco will hold a special election to fill one seat on the Board of Education. While the term is approximately six months and this candidate would have to run again in November to hold their seat, the candidate elected will be seated at the start of the 2026–27 school year, guiding the district through key decisions that will shape the year ahead.

SF Parents Action invites you to join our virtual School Board Candidate Forum on Wednesday, January 7 from 8–9 PM on Zoom. This forum is an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming school board elections, get informed about candidates, hear directly from the candidates themselves, and if you’re an active parent, teacher, or community leader in our network, participate in our endorsement process. RSVP and join us on the 7th!

Everyone is welcome to attend. Those who are eligible to participate in the endorsement vote will receive separate follow-up information. We hope you’ll join us and share the invite with friends!

A Parent Win for Transparency and Accountability

At yesterday’s Board of Education meeting, SF Parents helped force a shift in tone and accountability around the District’s draft 2026–27 budget plan thanks to your 735 signatures on the petition from our sister organization, SF Parents Coalition. Superintendent Dr. Su publicly acknowledged what parents, students, and teachers have been saying for weeks: the rollout lacked transparency, school-level engagement, and clarity about impacts and alternatives considered. That acknowledgment matters, and it directly reflects the concerns you raised through our advocacy. Thank you for speaking up.

Here’s what happened at the 12/16 Board of Education meeting:

• Dr. Su opened the discussion by acknowledging that the District should have communicated earlier and engaged the community more. She also called the released plan a draft and described it as a “worst-case scenario” – an important clarification that had not been communicated when the model was first released.
  
  

• Dr. Su made it clear that while we’re not near the worst-case scenario, there are three major unknowns: the state budget, enrollment, and unresolved labor contracts, all expected to clarify in January.
  
  

• Confirmation of new funding for social workers: Ahead of the staffing model discussion, Superintendent Dr. Maria Su confirmed that the District had identified funding to support social workers across all schools.
  
  

• School allocations will be shared in January, followed by meetings with leaders at all 125 schools and engagement with families through School Site Councils.
  
  

• The budget — and staffing model — will be revised in January after updated enrollment and the Governor’s proposed budget, and finalized in June.
  
  

• The District plans to release a Supplemental Hiring Guide (similar to last year’s) clarifying how funds may be used for additional teachers, instructional coaches, assistant principals, and paraeducators.
  
  

• If 7 periods are reduced to 6 at middle schools, schools may still opt to offer 7 periods through 0 period scheduling flexibility. The change would mean math instructional time would increase to allow for SFUSD to meet minimum recommended instructional minutes (which the district currently doesn’t meet!) but questions remain about the impact on electives.
  
  

• Board President Phil Kim asked how the staffing plan supports Vision 2027. Dr. Su acknowledged that the model has not yet been mapped to the District’s strategic vision.

This meeting marked a clear shift as the District publicly acknowledged the need for more transparency, better analysis, and clearer communication about impacts on and trade-offs for students. That’s the core of SF Parents’ advocacy work, and we will continue pressing for meaningful analysis and transparency before any budget decisions are finalized.

Congratulations to our 2025 Board of Education Bootcamp graduates. These 10 parent leaders completed our leadership pipeline program and are stepping forward with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to engage in school board governance and education advocacy in San Francisco.

We were grateful to be joined by Commissioner Supriya Ray and Jill and Margaux from BMWL, who shared practical insights into what it takes to run for office in San Francisco and lead with integrity. Their perspectives made for an inspiring and grounded conversation.

Building a strong pipeline of informed, community-rooted leaders matters. When parents understand how school board governance works and how decisions are made, SFUSD is better positioned to make choices that truly serve students and families across the city.

• Protecting Public Education: SF Parents has joined other community based organizations signing onto a national letter calling on Congress to stop the unlawful dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and to protect critical programs that support students, families, and schools. Join us and sign the letter here.
  
  

• City Charter Reform & Parent Voice: SF Parents is proud to be invited to serve on the City’s Charter Reform Committee, to help ensure that parents and students are represented as the City reviews and considers recommendations for changes to how the city’s charter functions. We will especially focus on where changes could impact public education and accountability.

• District/Union Labor Negotiations Updates: We’re not in the bargaining room but we’re sharing here with you updates from the district and from the union as to how negotiations are going for the updated teachers’ contract. We we will keep families informed and supported if/as things unfold.

Help Us Build the Next Five Years — Give $5

We’ve launched our Fund Our Next Five campaign to raise $50,000 from families citywide — one small donation at a time. We’re already making great progress toward our goal.

We’re already at almost 50% of our goal with $23,467 raised as of today! If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’re asking every family to do one small thing with a big impact: Chip in $5 (or more!)  to power the next phase of this work.

Your $5 supports parent organizing and leadership, strengthens district accountability work, and powers the advocacy that keeps student success at the front and center.

Every dollar helps us protect progress and push for the schools our kids deserve. When families step up together, real change happens faster.

Can you chip in $5 today to keep this work moving?

Founded in the summer of 2020, SF Parent Action is the political sister arm of SF Parent Coalition. We advocate for policies and elected officials who put the needs of San Francisco’s public school students first. Our mission is to empower public school parents in San Francisco to advocate for policy change and local candidates who support public school families and students.

www.sfparentaction.org

Want to support the work of SF Parents Action moving forward?

Donate $5 (or more!) to Fund Our Next Five Years!

Questions?

Contact an SF Parent!

hello@sfparents.org