SFUSD BOE Meeting Cheat Sheet – 8/25/2026
Public commenting is an important opportunity to make your powerful voice heard.
Let the S.F. Board of Education and SFUSD Leadership know how parents and caregivers feel, how the district can do better for our city’s kids, our teachers, and our schools!
Learn more about how to attend a meeting or make a public comment here.
Please note that as SF Parents is focused on our core issues, we only do
the summary/takes on the most pertinent agenda items related to our advocacy campaigns. If you see that something on the BOE agenda is omitted, it is likely for this reason.
8/25/2026 Regular Meeting: Monitoring Workshop at 6:30pm:
- Full meeting agenda on BoardDocs here.
- Zoom link here – Password: 131122.
- Agenda summary from SF Parent Coalition follows below.
SF PARENT’S SUMMARY:
Last year, only 49% (vs. the target of 62%) of SFUSD’s 3rd graders met proficiency standards in the state English Language Arts test. Specific student populations–including African American and Hispanic students, English language learners, students experiencing homelessness, and students in Special Education programs–continue to need comprehensive literacy support.
Item G.1 Workshop on Student Outcomes – Goal 1 Progress Monitoring Report (link here)
SFUSD’s Goal 1: Grade 3 Literacy states, “The percentage of third-grade students reading at grade level as measured by state tests (SBAC ELA) will increase from 52% proficiency rate in October 2022 to 70% proficiency by October 2028.”
However, reading proficiency for SFUSD 3rd graders has actually declined since 2022, with only 49% of last year’s SFUSD 3rd graders meeting SBAC ELA proficiency standards. This is up 2% from the 2025 numbers, but is 13% below SFUSD’s goal for the 2025-26 school year. The chart below shows the historical trend lines for SFUSD’s 3rd grade reading proficiency outcomes:
Reading proficiency rates for students who are African American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latino also continue to lag behind their peers, as shown in the chart below:
Of particular concern is the steep drop in the percentage of 3rd grade students who are English Learners (ELs) or experiencing homelessness meeting reading standards. ELs had 19% of students meeting standards in SY 2023-24, but only 10% meeting standards in SY 2025-26. Students who were experiencing homelessness had 25% meeting standards in SY 2023-24 but only 14% meeting standards in SY 2025-26. The chart below illustrates the decline in SBAC English Language scores for these two groups, as well as the lack of significant improvement in reading proficiency scores for students receiving special education and students who are socio-economically disadvantaged:
SFUSD says that it plans to continue its implementation of phonics-based reading instruction in elementary schools, and will emphasize instructional guidance, professional learning, and progress monitoring to support the most vulnerable students.
Our Take: SFUSD is taking important steps to improve 3rd grade reading through stronger curriculum, teacher coaching, and professional learning. But a major piece is missing from this plan: a clear MTSS strategy for students who are struggling to read. We also know that improving reading outcomes at this scale is significant systems change, and it will take time.
Strong classroom instruction is essential, but some students will need more. SFUSD needs a strong Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that identifies students who are falling behind, provides targeted reading interventions, and regularly monitors whether those supports are working.
A May 2026 study by Harvard and Stanford researchers found that districts making stronger gains in early literacy use this kind of comprehensive approach, including targeted interventions, frequent progress monitoring, and family involvement.
Parents need to be part of that system too. Families should know when their child is behind, what additional support they are receiving, whether it’s working, and how they can help at home.
For SFUSD to improve 3rd grade reading outcomes, strong Tier 1 instruction and a strong MTSS system need to go hand in hand.
As a reminder – SF Parents’ community continues to demand from SFUSD:
AN INCREASED, DEMONSTRATED FOCUS ON STUDENTS: We want to see the district’s clear plan and commitment to a baseline of excellence and equity across every SFUSD school. Without clarity, analysis, and follow-through on how decisions impact student outcomes, it’s impossible to know if SFUSD is truly prioritizing what matters most—student learning and success. Through our SF Kids Can’t Wait campaign, families continue to call for urgent improvements in literacy and math outcomes for SFUSD.
GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY:
Families deserve open, honest communication about how decisions are made and how funds are spent. SFUSD must provide clear data and impact analysis for all major initiatives, including how they support student achievement. The Board should not approve budgets or plans without confidence in their accuracy or their impact on teaching and learning.
REAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND STRONG GOVERNANCE:
SFUSD must move beyond promises to consistent, measurable action. Strong governance from the Board of Education is essential to restoring trust and delivering results for students. Commissioners must remain focused on student outcomes, fiscal responsibility, and transparency, and hold district leadership accountable for following through on commitments and delivering measurable progress.