Endorsement Process
Our Parent-Led Endorsement Process
SF Parents is committed to electing candidates who will fight for the needs of children and youth in our public education system. As a diverse coalition of more than 5,000 parents and supporters from across San Francisco, our endorsement process is inclusive, transparent, and parent-led at every stage.
Our Families Lead the Way
Our organization was born out of a need to ensure that parents have a voice in their children's education.
We formed to help give parents a voice and realize their leadership potential.
Some of the ways we involve our families in our endorsements:
- We convene families for pre-planning meetings to discuss election seasons and collaborate with them on what an effective endorsement process looks like for them. This ongoing work is done to create a shared sense of values, and purpose, as we navigate elections together in community.
- We engage our network of families by soliciting questions they want to see addressed by candidates; producing a parent-developed questionnaire, both written and verbal, for candidates to respond to.
- We involve families with planning and hosting large endorsement events where they meet and hear from candidates, and submit feedback on candidates.
- We poll our families in several multi-faceted platforms to ensure that we are reaching as many of our families as possible, to ensure that a diverse group of SFUSD families are heard and represented in our endorsements.
- We hold candidates accountable for any, and all, previous work performed in their professional capacity on behalf of children within SFUSD, as well as to a criteria of standards that aligns with our overarching mission and our Parent Priorities platform, created with, by, and from, our SF Parents community.
- SF Parents is committed to empowering and elevating the voices of historically marginalized groups within our day-to-day work and in our endorsement process. To ensure that our consensus-based endorsements are equitable and fair, SF Parents factors in the marginalization of low-income and Black and Brown families in San Francisco’s public schools in our decision making.
November 2022 Election
In November, SF voters will choose three commissioners for the BOE. After a thorough review process led by families, for families, SF Parent Action has chosen to endorse Lainie Motamedi and Lisa Weissman-Ward for the Board of Education.
Since their appointment by Mayor Breed in March, Lainie and Lisa have ushered in a culture of transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to understanding and prioritizing students’ needs.
Learn more about our endorsement of Lainie and Lisa, as well as our endorsement of YES on G!, for the Student Success Fund, and other student-focused proposition endorsements.
SF Parent Action Candidate Forum, July 2022
On July 16, SF Parent Action hosted a candidate forum and heard from all the candidates.
Parent and student leaders asked questions of the candidates to discover more about their priorities for SFUSD if they win in November and serve on the School Board for the next four years.
Watch and learn what they had to say
The Candidates
“If you build it, they will come.” If we provide the programming and resources that our families want (language pathways, STEM programs, inclusion, etc) at under-enrolled schools, families will be more likely to consider these schools.”
Budget - The candidate’s policy focuses on increasing sources of revenue for the most part. They do share some important ideas on making programs more effective specifically for literacy but it is unclear how these will specifically improve the budget deficit. Their efforts to fix the budget rely on methods that are longer term such as changing the city budget and lobbying for more money at the state level which while potentially good ideas do not recognize the current budget crisis.
Literacy - Supports SF Parent Coalition’s platform on commitment to improving literacy instruction and student reading outcomes at SFUSD.
Governance - On this question, while the candidate self-assigned a grade of 3 to themselves, they also shared that they “don’t always agree with “following the lead” of the superintendent and staff. I think it’s very important to acknowledge the great work happening in our district.” These appear to be inconsistent.
Stance on February 2022 School Board Recall - Opposed the recall
“While I generally support improving literacy, I believe right now that students need social-emotional support that will prepare them to succeed in new academic programs.”
Budget - The candidate focuses on increasing sources of revenue for SFUSD but they do not offer any concrete strategies of doing so. See quotes above.
Literacy - Does not know if she supports SF Parent Coalition’s platform on commitment to improving literacy instruction and student reading outcomes at SFUSD.
Governance - The candidate does not demonstrate a clear alignment with the SF parents guidelines on the role of the board and of that of the board members. Their answers point to areas that are not necessarily aligned with their self-assigned scores. They demonstrate a lack of concrete and actionable policies they would take on as a board member. Their statement lacks focus and understanding of constraints of the reality of SFUSD and the concerns of the SF parents community.
Stance on February 2022 School Board Recall - Opposed the recall
“I will not ask for more money until we know that we are spending the money we already have effectively and efficiently! We the board members should represent the values, needs, and desires of our communities.”
Budget - Ann is very pragmatic about the budget crisis and in their statement takes a fiscally conservative stance focusing on working within the existing budget vs seeking more funds. They reference a financial spending framework for schools and are focused on transparency from the administration.
Literacy - Supports SF Parent Coalition’s platform on commitment to improving literacy instruction and student reading outcomes at SFUSD.
Governance - Ann demonstrates an understanding of constraints and a familiarity with the workings of both SFUSD as well the board and the role of a board member.
Stance on February 2022 School Board Recall - Was an active supporter of the recall including helping found and lead the Chinese/API Voter Outreach Taskforce.
“Outcomes, not inputs. The budget should reflect student priorities and outcomes. Not vice versa.”
“We cannot forget our collective purpose as adults to both serve our youth now and set them up for successful futures. This is why I am focused on student outcomes, fiscal accountability, and community partnership.”
Budget - The candidate frames the budget discussion with a clear understanding of the on-the-ground reality which reflects their experience both as a member of the BOE. They are pragmatic about the constraints and focused on accountability, transparency and outcomes. They demonstrate an understanding of the current gaps (e.g. pointed out that SFUSD does not follow state guidelines)
Literacy - Supports SF Parent Coalition’s platform on commitment to improving literacy instruction and student reading outcomes at SFUSD.
Governance - The candidate demonstrates a clear understanding of the responsibilities of a board member including of the landscape of SFUSD and the priorities and challenges it faces. They show a consistent engagement with the parent community (visited many school sites) and shared ideas on continuing to expand this engagement.
Stance on February 2022 School Board Recall - The candidate supported the recall.
“Excellence and equity in education go hand-in-hand. You can’t have one without the other. For far too long, these concepts have been pitted against one another and it has resulted in adults fighting and students getting further harmed.”
Budget - The candidate’s budget focus while alluding to increased funding via a ballot measure acknowledges the constraints of SFUSD and focuses on the budget being student centered and focused on student outcomes. Their response also acknowledges looking at impact to school sites and looking at central administration. They advocate for more communication and transparency around the budget.
Literacy - Supports SF Parent Coalition’s platform on commitment to improving literacy instruction and student reading outcomes at SFUSD.
Governance - The candidate demonstrates a clear understanding of the responsibilities of a board member and the challenges of SFUSD. They have engaged with the parent community and shared good ideas on better engagement beyond the BOE meetings.
Stance on February 2022 School Board Recall - The candidate supported the recall.
Past Endorsements
June 7, 2022 Election
Vote NO on Proposition C.
This year San Francisco voters overwhelmingly recalled three members of the Board of Education because they failed to do their jobs and prioritized their personal agenda ahead of public schoolchildren. This historic grassroots victory for San Francisco parents sent a message to every politician that we will hold them accountable.
But with Proposition C, it would be even harder for voters to ever recall failed politicians again. If Proposition C were already law, the three failed Board of Education members would still be in office today, damaging our public schools and students. Please join our diverse coalition of parents, advocates and San Francisco community leaders and VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION C.
Vote NO on Proposition E.
Proposition E is a city ordinance that prevents elected officials from soliciting donations for charities, philanthropic organizations and community based nonprofits. While Prop E is well-intentioned, it is a complicated one-size-fits-all measure that will make it harder to raise money for local nonprofits that serve residents in need.
SFUSD relies on a number of local organizations to provide critical services to children and families such as after-school care, summer camps, and enrollment fairs. Such organizations also help build playgrounds, protect green space, and support public arts and LGBTQ programs that families rely upon.
During the pandemic, nonprofits helped to staff and establish Community Hubs that provided in-person support for distance learning, healthy meals, and out of school time activities for 2,000 students- 96% of whom were students of color. If Prop E was in place, these Hubs would have struggled to get off the ground.
As our public schools recover from the pandemic, nonprofit support is essential. Prop E should be more narrowly tailored as a city ordinance so it can target corrupt practices without harming unrelated charitable organizations.
Vote No on E.
February 15, 2022 Election
Vote YES on Propositions A and B
Our organization’s leadership has concluded that Commissioners Allison Collins and Gabriela Lopez should no longer serve on the Board of Education. Their decisions and actions reached a crescendo in Collins's attempt to strip SFUSD and students of millions of dollars via her $87 million lawsuit against the school district, an action which President Lopez supported. This lawsuit was tossed out of court by a federal judge who determined that the suit was meritless. Furthermore, as President and former Vice President of the School Board they led our district into a financial crisis, potentially resulting in state takeover and further harm to our students. As an organization advocating for a thriving, equitable school system we feel the urgency to act now; that this cannot wait until a future election.
