Newsletter - December 10, 2025 - San Francisco Parent Coalition

December 10, 2025

The Latest Scoop at SFUSD: All Things BUDGET

Starting with the good news about the budget:
Thanks to higher-than-expected funding from the state and significant cost-cutting over the past year, SFUSD has officially moved out of the state’s worst fiscal category from “negative” into a “qualified” rating. This shift means the district is no longer considered at immediate risk of running out of money, or being taken over by the state, and officials say SFUSD could reach a fully balanced budget as soon as March.
But, there’s also very bad news about the budget:
Despite the improved state rating, SFUSD’s proposed budget stabilization plan includes major cuts that have families, principals, and teachers extremely concerned. Note: these proposals are not yet approved, but they include: shifting all middle schools to a 6-period day (reducing teachers), cuts to assistant principals, counselors, and eliminating social workers except from Title I schools; an $8.6M reduction to school site budgets, central office cuts, possible school/program consolidations starting in 2027–28, elimination of general ed transportation in 2027, and removal of middle school health teachers. That’s… a lot of deep cuts that will absolutely negatively impact our students across SFUSD.

And, a confusing part about the budget:
At the 12/9 Board of Education meeting last night, the Board voted 5 to 2 to create “Fund 17,” which places $111 million into a reserve account. Building a reserve is generally considered good budgeting practice, and the Board had previously asked the district to establish one. But…. the public school community is (rightfully) questioning this timing, especially at a time when the district is proposing catastrophic cuts to schools (e.g. eliminating social workers) and potential school closures. This might not be the time to save for a rainy day when we’re in the middle of a storm.
Have questions you want us to ask the district about the budget? Share them here.

Our Fix the Budget, Fund the Future campaign brings parents together to demand better from SFUSD: real transparency, sustainable budgeting, and investments that actually work for students.

Our goals are simple but essential. We’ve been calling on SFUSD to:

Fix our Budget:
Remove the threat of a full state takeover and restore full local control of our schools. PROGRESS!
Ensure a Baseline of Excellence:
Make sure dollars are tied closest to kids so every school has what it needs to deliver high-quality teaching and learning, and any budget cuts minimize negative impacts to students. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Provide Real Transparency:
Build clear, accessible systems for budget decision-making so families can understand how dollars flow and how students are centered in the process. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

As part of this effort, our Parent Solvers team recently met with the Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations, Chris Mount-Benites, to share concrete, parent-driven recommendations that will help SFUSD improve transparency around financial systems:

Budget Tracker

Parents recommended building a public-facing dashboard that reflects all three current workstreams: 1) Previous school year; 2) Current school year; 3) Upcoming school year. When we learned that this dashboard is still a ways out from becoming reality, parents emphasized that even a static, once-a-year timeline would provide enormous value by helping families, educators, and community partners understand the budget.

2024–27 Budget Tracker & Document Repository

Parents also called for a public repository that consolidates all SFUSD budget and Board documents for fiscal years 2024–25, 2025–26, and 2026–27. Over time, this archive can grow to include additional years and additional analysis, giving families and stakeholders a clearer view of SFUSD’s long-term financial picture.

Don’t forget to check out the Our 415 Program, led by the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF). Our415 is your source for everything San Francisco has for young people and families. It’s your one-stop-shop for programs and resources from the City and County of San Francisco and its nonprofit partners. For more information, visit the Our 415 website at www.our415.org.

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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.

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Newsletter – December 10, 2025

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