Dear SFUSD Champions and Supporters,
On Wednesday, SFUSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Maria Su, is being called to testify before a Republican-led Congressional committee focused on parental rights in public education and concerns about curriculum content. With the national conversation around public education intensifying, our district’s superintendent will find herself defending SFUSD’s policies and curriculum before a potentially challenging audience.
As these kinds of national debates about public education continue, we’ve been reflecting on what we hear from San Francisco families every day, and what parents tell us they want from their public schools. In our experience, the answer is remarkably consistent. Parents want strong reading, writing, and math instruction. They want safe schools where students can focus on learning. They want excellent teachers, responsible leadership, and instruction that prepares children for the future. They also want every child to feel welcomed, respected, and supported to succeed.
SFUSD serves nearly 49,000 students from an incredible range of backgrounds and life experiences. That diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and San Francisco public schools should be a place where every student knows they belong. SF Parents represents more than 10,000 families and supporters connected to 100+ public schools across the city. While our community does not always agree on every issue, we consistently hear that families want schools to be focused on student success, in environments where all kids can learn and thrive.
This is why SF Parents Coalition wrote a letter to Congress and sent three parent leaders to Washington, D.C. in support of our schools, our district, and our supportive learning environment. Cliff Yee, co-founder of SF Parents Coalition, Autumn Brown Garibay, long-time advocate promoting SFUSD to parents across the city, and Sharon In, SFUSD mom and former SFUSD teacher, are flying out to D.C. today, thanks to the invitation from National Parents Union, our strong partner in uplifting parent voice at the federal level. These parent leaders will be attending the hearing and making legislative visits to share a different perspective on San Francisco than the one driving this hearing:
- San Francisco families want accountability and inclusion — these are not opposing values.
- Strong academic outcomes and a welcoming environment for every student go hand in hand.
- Parents across our city, from every background, want schools where all kids are treated with dignity and can succeed.
Over the past several years, SF Parents has pushed SFUSD on many issues, including literacy, math achievement, fiscal stability, transparency, and student outcomes. We will continue to do this work because strong accountability and high expectations matter. At the same time, we believe that ensuring every student is treated with dignity and respect is also essential to student success. As conversations about public education continue to play out across the country, we’ll continue advocating for all of the things that matter most to San Francisco families.
In partnership for SF’s kids,
Meredith & the SF Parents Team
