Dear SF Public School Champion
Before the holiday season is in full swing, our team at SF Parents Action wants to make sure you’re aware of the school board election season now approaching.
But wait… aren’t the school board elections typically in November?
Yes, you’re right about that, if that’s what you were thinking. But 2026 will be a bit different, with two school board elections, not one. First, President Phil Kim’s seat will be up for election in June 2026, and three seats will be on the ballot in November 2026 (including Kim’s again–he has to run twice given that he was appointed).
Why do we care about school board elections, anyway?
If you’ve been following the school board happenings for the last five years, you remember all too well the instability and chaos that ensued when we had school board members who were distracted by special projects and their own personal aspirations rather than kids’ learning needs during the pandemic. You also saw more recently what can happen when we elect kids-focused leaders to the board who focus on the basics, hold Central Office accountable to student-outcomes decisionmaking, and (mostly) stay out of the headlines.
Local elections have real consequences in classrooms across San Francisco – from the math students learn to the literacy and well-being supports they receive. Parent voices help ensure school board leaders put kids first, not politics.
And that’s why we’re excited to announce the kickoff of our June 2026 Endorsement Process!
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We’re now launching the early steps of our endorsement process for the one Board of Education seat up in June 2026. Our robust, parent-led process seeks strong candidates who will lift up and be responsive to parent voices, support our teachers and staff, hold the Superintendent and staff accountable to operating a fiscally-solvent district prioritizing dollars towards student success, and stay laser-focused on improving student outcomes.
Thinking about running? Email hello@sfparents.org by December 12th to begin our pre-screening process. Serious candidates will be invited to fill out a candidate questionnaire and participate in our Candidate Interview Forum the evening of January 7th.
Not running but would like to attend our Candidate Interview Forum? Find out more details and RSVP here.
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SFUSD families, teachers, students, and community members are invited to join our virtual forum on Wednesday, January 7th, from 8-9 PM over Zoom to hear directly from all qualified candidates running for the June 2026 Board seat. This is your chance to ask questions about candidates’ priorities, learn about their plans for SF public schools, and share feedback to help SF Parents understand what matters most to you.
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Tonight, our third cohort of Board of Education Bootcamp Fellows will finish their fifth and final session of our program. We want to congratulate our ten Fellows on their passion, commitment, and curiosity. These parent and teacher leaders have spent the past few months learning how public education works across California and locally in San Francisco, what it’s like serving on the Board of Education, what leadership for educational excellence and equity looks like, the importance of parent voice influencing our schools, and what it’s like to run for office (or take other leadership roles) in San Francisco. Their involvement shows that parents who step up can make a direct impact on district policies and priorities. Congratulations, Fellows!!
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8th Grade Algebra Update: Despite a recent SF Standard article that raised concerns about the status of 8th Grade Algebra offerings returning to SFUSD, the district says they are on track to restore Algebra I access for 8th graders by Fall 2026, following three pilot programs and an evaluation period that launched last year. Families can expect clear guidance starting January, and SF Parents will continue advocating for strong, coherent math instruction PK–8. Read SF Parents Coalition’s full update here to learn more about the rollout status and what’s ahead.
- Teacher/District negotiations and strike authorization: Our teacher’s union, UESF, and district are currently negotiating an updated contract. Yesterday, UESF’s strike authorization vote passed, allowing their leadership to call a strike if they deem necessary. Parents aren’t in the bargaining room, but we’re monitoring closely and talking with both teachers and district administration so we can share accurate information with our community. We believe our teachers should be among the best paid in the country. We believe the district must maintain a sustainable budget to avoid state control. We hope both sides reach an agreement that works for teachers and kids, and ensures a stable district that prioritizes student learning.
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Budget Timeline Moves Up: SFUSD is moving the budget timeline up this year, with major updates at two upcoming BOE meetings: the December 9th presentation and discussion of the First Interim Report, and the December 16th discussion on staffing models and the district’s fiscal stabilization plan. We are hearing from principals that big–and some worrying–changes to the staffing model are proposed. There will also be earlier engagement opportunities for families this year, including an SSC Summit in January (instead of the typical March date). With decisions happening sooner, it is important that parents pay attention now: SFUSD’s budget must maximize dollars towards student success. Join SF Parents on Thursday December 11th, at 12 PM over Zoom to hear budget updates from SFUSD’s CBO, Chris Mount-Benites, at our Community Meeting:
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That’s all for now and we hope this update helped you feel more grounded in what’s coming for SFUSD. If it did, we have one small ask that makes an enormous difference.
Everything we’ve shared here – organizing parents, training future education leaders, running a parent-led endorsement process, and shaping our public schools – only happens when our community chips in to make the work possible. As we head into a year with two pivotal school board elections, your support determines how strong our parent voice can be. If you believe in the power of families to shape our public schools, now is the moment to back this work.
Will you make a donation today? $5, $50 or whatever fits, to help power the next five years of parent-led advocacy in San Francisco?
In partnership for SF’s kids,
Meredith & the SF Parents Team
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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
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