We need your voice on two important issues facing SFUSD right now: elementary school enrollment and technology in schools.

Tell us what you think, and we’ll make sure parent voices are part of the conversation. We’ll bring what we hear to SFUSD and the Board of Education, share the results with our broader school community, and use them to shape what SF Parents advocates for next. Please take both surveys today and help us bring a strong, representative parent voice to these conversations.

Want to know more before you respond? Here’s what’s happening on both issues and why we’re asking parents to weigh in now.

Starting in the 2028-29 school year, SFUSD is making a major change to how families enroll in elementary schools. The district currently uses a largely citywide choice lottery system with an assortment of tiebreakers. The Board is now considering three different approaches that would all give families greater predictability and proximity, but offer different levels of choice.

The three options are:

Option 1 – Small Zones: Families are assigned to one of a small group of nearby schools, plus they can enter a lottery for designated citywide programs (language programs and K-8 schools) only.

Option 2 – Neighborhood + All Schools: Families have a guaranteed spot at one neighborhood school, but can apply to any other school across the city where space is available, plus they can enter a lottery for designated citywide programs (language programs and K-8 schools).

Option 3 – Neighborhood + Citywide Programs: Families have a guaranteed spot at one neighborhood school, plus they can enter a lottery for designated citywide programs (language programs and K-8 schools) only.

The Board is expected to choose a direction in mid-October, with additional design and community engagement before a final policy is adopted next April.

SF Parents has been following this process closely, and we’ve been talking with families about what they want from a new system. So far, we’ve heard a consistent theme: parents want more predictability, but they also don’t want to lose meaningful choice. Before the Board chooses a direction, we want to hear from more of you, especially those who will be navigating this system in the years ahead. You can read our BOE Cheat Sheets and Summaries from the first two study sessions on enrollment, and related board meetings last year.

What matters most to your family? Take our poll on enrollment here.

Parents can see that technology has become a regular part of the school day, from Chromebooks and classroom apps to AI, online assessments, phones and smartwatches. But we don’t have a clear picture of what that actually looks like for students across SFUSD. How much time are kids spending on school devices? What apps and websites are they using? Are families being told what their students are doing in terms of tech? And what concerns are parents seeing firsthand?

SF Parents has spent the past several months talking with families and researching how SFUSD and other school districts approach technology. We’ve have some important questions around screen time, student devices, AI, and how digital tools are selected and used, and we’ve also found that practices can vary significantly from school to school (and classroom to classroom).

Now we want to hear from you. Our short tech survey asks about your family’s actual experience with technology at school and what you think SFUSD should prioritize. Your responses will help shape where SF Parents focuses our advocacy on technology this year. The survey takes about 3 minutes!

These are two important issues for SFUSD families, and we hope you’ll take a few minutes to complete both surveys.

We need input from families across the district – at different schools, in different neighborhoods, and with kids of different ages and experiences. The more parents we hear from, the stronger our voice will be when we bring your priorities directly to district and Board leaders.

This is your city. Share your story. San Francisco families and young adults (age 18-24) are invited to join one of 14 Family Summits across the city. What families share will help inform future City and SFUSD planning for children, youth and families. Learn more at SF.gov/ThisIsYourCity.

WAS THIS EMAIL HELPFUL?

📬 FORWARD ME TO A FRIEND! 📬

Or, received this email from a friend? Subscribe here

SF Parents Coalition is a 501c3 nonprofit that centers the needs of children and youth in San Francisco public schools by bringing together a diverse network of parents and caregivers to advocate for a thriving, equitable school system.

Join as a member, volunteer, or donate to support our work! 

SF Parent Action is our affiliate 501c4 organization that empowers public school parents in San Francisco to advocate for policy change and local candidates who support public school families and students. 

Update your newsletter language preference here.

在此處更新您的首選語言，開始及時接收中文或西班牙文訊息。

Actualice su preferencia de idioma aquí para comenzar a recibir comunicaciones oportunas en español en lugar de inglés.