A couple of weeks ago at our Spring Forward for our Schools celebration in Balboa Park, something powerful happened. Mayor Daniel Lurie had just finished his remarks, recognizing our amazing schools and the impact of parents on driving important wins for kids these last 5 years. A Tenderloin Community School mom, who recently completed our 3-part Read to Lead series, approached our team.
“I really want to talk to him, but I’m nervous,” she told us. In our sessions we speak with families about putting on their power coat, and this mom was on the verge of wearing hers. She practiced with us before approaching the Mayor, and then she went for it. With her child at her side, she spoke directly with the Mayor for the first time, and shared her concerns about how the city and district can do better for kids like hers. The Mayor listened. And the mom was powerful, while her kid was watching.
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Empowering Parents as Literacy Partners
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Every child deserves to learn to read. Every parent deserves to know how to help.
SF Parent Coalition is excited to officially announce Read to Lead, our newest initiative and one that moves us from advocacy alone into true problem solvers. This series supports families as partners in their children’s literacy journeys—and builds their power to fight for better outcomes across our public schools.
We launched Read to Lead because too many parents feel left out of conversations about how their kids are learning to read. We believe that when families understand how reading is taught and get the tools to support learning at home, they become powerful advocates – not just for their own children, but for all students.
This work was born from what we heard over and over again from parents—“I want to help, but I don’t know how.” So we dug in. Our team spent months talking with families, researching best practices, and learning from other community organizations that have done this work well. What we’ve brought together is a workshop series rooted in the things that matter most to San Francisco families—and we will keep adjusting and strengthening as we go, with parents leading the way.
So far this spring, we’ve brought Read to Lead to four high-priority elementary schools, reaching over 120 parents in a three-part workshop series. Each series consists of three 1.5-hour sessions designed to equip parents with practical strategies, stronger connections to their schools, and a deeper understanding of how to support learning and lead change. In Session 1, parents explore SFUSD-wide literacy data, learn about the research behind its approach, and participate in activities to build home reading routines. In Session 2, parents discover strategies to build on literacy skills and learn how to interpret STAR EL/Reading reports and report cards to understand their child’s progress. Finally, in Session 3, parents learn about grade-level milestones, explore key learning themes, and discover community resources to support learning at home, with an emphasis on the importance of consistent attendance.
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Impact across Schools
With support from our key funders Crankstart and DCYF, we’ve brought Read to Lead to:
At each school we’ve seen incredible energy from parents, with staff telling us they’ve never seen such a strong turnout for parent workshops. Families receive books and materials, are provided with ongoing support from our team, and in many cases, they keep meeting even after the series ends. Some are stepping into leadership roles through SF Parents to shape literacy policy citywide.
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Connection to our S.F. Kids Can’t Wait campaign
These workshops are part of our broader SF Kids Can’t Wait campaign, where we’ve been pushing SFUSD to take bold, urgent steps to improve early reading and early math programs, especially for students who have been underserved for too long.
What’s Next?
We’re just getting started. Next school year we’re expanding Read to Lead to more schools—doubling our reach and impact. Interested in bringing Read to Lead to your school? Email [email protected].
How You Can Help
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Volunteer: We’re looking for bilingual volunteers to support workshops. Training provided!
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Donate: Your support—whether $5 or $500—helps us keep this work going. Know a major donor that might be interested? There’s room for support at all levels!
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Spread the Word: Forward this email to other parents, teachers, or principals who care about literacy (and math!).
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Join Us in May for our last Community Meeting of the School Year with Special Guest: Board of Education President Phil Kim
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM via Zoom
π RSVP HERE!
At our Thursday 5/22 community meeting over Zoom, we’ll reflect on this year’s parents wins, look ahead to the new school year, and share updates on where SFUSD stands in the budgeting process for the 2026-27 school year. We’re looking forward to be joined by Board of Education President Phil Kim to hear updates on the district budget and staffing situation.
Hope to see you then.
In community,
Meredith and the SF Parents Team
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SF Parent 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.
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