Navigating the SFUSD Staffing Crisis: Questions for a Sustainable Future

This excerpt expresses deep concern over the impact of budget cuts and a new staffing model on special education in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). The author raises critical questions about how the district can fulfill its legal and ethical obligations to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) while facing significant staff shortages and reductions in support services. The piece highlights the impossibility of meeting LCAP priorities (improving literacy and math interventions, increasing graduation rates, addressing chronic absenteeism, and providing social-emotional support) without adequate staffing. The author emphasizes the unsustainable workload placed on educators and the potential for further staff attrition, ultimately questioning how the district can maintain quality education under these conditions. The central plea is for community engagement and a transparent decision-making process that prioritizes student well-being.

Family Engagementppssf adminFebruary 19, 2025effective decision making, whole child, budget cuts, FAPEComment

Plan an Unforgettable Summer for Your Kids

Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco is hosting a resource table the free Summer Resource Fair on Saturday, February 22nd at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue). The event features a wide range of summer camps and activities for children in grades K-8, covering sports, arts, STEM, academic enrichment, and more. Families can meet program representatives, ask questions, and register for programs. More information is available at https://www.sf.gov/san-francisco-summer-resource-fair.

Family Engagementppssf adminFebruary 19, 2025summer learning, summer activities, ppssf resource tableComment

Today is a day of opportunity! A message from our Executive Director

Parents for Public Schools San Francisco (PPS-SF) is sounding the alarm about proposed budget cuts in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) that threaten essential programs serving vulnerable student populations. While acknowledging the need for budget reductions, PPS-SF criticizes the lack of transparency and impact analysis in the decision-making process. They argue that the proposed cuts, potentially reaching 100% in some areas, would disproportionately harm students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including English learners, students with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness.

To address this, PPS-SF has presented an Immigration Workgroup plan to SFUSD, aimed at creating a more inclusive environment for immigrant students. They have also met with SFUSD leadership to advocate for the needs of vulnerable students and to ensure alignment between budget cuts and the district's Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). They emphasize that children are not mere numbers but individuals with unique needs, and decisions must be guided by data-driven impact analyses rather than arbitrary cuts.

PPS-SF's call to action urges community members to contact their elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels to voice their concerns. They encourage participation in school site council meetings, public comment periods at board meetings, and other opportunities for community engagement to hold the school district accountable and advocate for equitable resource allocation.