Back-to-School Nights: How Parents can come Prepared!

Back-to-school nights are an important opportunity for parents to be welcomed into their children’s school community, to learn about priorities for student learning and well-being both in the classroom and school-wide, and to ask questions of teachers, principals, and other school leaders. Don’t miss your kids’ back-to-school nights, whether you’re a new-to-SFUSD parent or you’ve been around and through this system for a decade or more! High school and middle school back-to-school nights are just as important as for elementary.

Come prepared this year with these helpful questions/suggestions from SF Parents!

Questions for you school site leadership (APs and Principals):

• There are so many issues affecting SF public schools in general right now. What are your priorities for our students this school year?
• Are there any school site funding issues that might affect teaching and learning at our school?
• What is the most important thing I can do as a parent to support teaching and learning at our school?

Questions for school site parent leadership (PTAs/PTOs or School Site Council Representatives):

• Tell me more about what the School Site Council does here at school. How can I get involved with SSC?
• Tell me more about what the parent organization does here at the school. How can I get involved with the parent organization?
• What are the parent leadership organization’s priorities for this school year?
• What is the most important thing I can do as a parent to support teaching and learning at our school?

Questions for your children’s teachers:

• There are so many issues affecting SF public schools in general right now. What are your priorities for students in your class this school year?
• Tell me more about the curriculum you will be using for English language arts, math, social science, etc.
• How can I as a parent support teaching and learning in your class?

Things that parents should know about this year:

• SFUSD is reviewing how it teaches reading and writing in elementary schools. More information should be available in a few months.
• SFUSD and United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) are negotiating a new contract–this may affect SFUSD’s structural budget deficit but teachers need to be valued and fairly compensated.
• There is a proposed City and County of San Francisco charter amendment on the November 2022 ballot that will provide grant funds to SFUSD schools and dramatically support teaching and learning in the district. SF Parent Coalition supports Prop G!
• Also on the November 2022 ballot are three seats for the SFUSD Board of Education. Your voice and vote are important to ensure that student-centered leaders govern our district. You may learn more about that through our sister arm, SF Parent Action.