Newsletter – May 20, 2026

Dear SFUSD Champions and Supporters,

This week marks an important moment for SFUSD.

First, following years of budget advocacy, the district shared its expected return to a “positive” fiscal certification. Under Superintendent Maria Su’s leadership, SFUSD has made significant progress towards stabilizing its finances after years of crisis. This continued progress toward financial recovery marks SFUSD’s strongest financial position in over a decade.

Financial stability and good governance are critical to improving student outcomes, supporting teachers, and strengthening trust with families. While significant structural budget challenges remain, stabilizing the district’s finances was an important first step.

Second, last week the district announced an exciting new cabinet-level hire, John L. Davis, Jr. of Baltimore Public Schools, who will serve as SFUSD’s new Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services. 

This critical role shapes how instructional priorities, school supports, and district strategy are carried out across SFUSD schools. He brings more than 30 years of experience in urban education leadership, including senior roles in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. During Deputy Superintendent Davis’s tenure, both cities undertook instructional improvement efforts that are similar to what we’ve been advocating for here in SF: adopting high-quality, evidence-based curriculum and supporting teachers to implement it effectively. His work in these districts led to meaningful improvements in student learning.

Through our SF Kids Can’t Wait campaign, SF Parents plans to welcome Deputy Superintendent Davis this summer, connecting Davis directly to families to hear from them about their hopes and dreams for SFUSD students in math and reading as he jumps on board. We’re excited to engage with Deputy Superintendent Davis early and collaboratively around what our city’s students need most.

The Real Work Happens in Classrooms

SFUSD is nearing the end of Year 2 of its literacy curriculum rollout and Year 1 of implementing its new math curriculum. Much of this school year focused on adopting and improving implementation, strengthening supports for teachers, and building a more coherent instructional approach across schools. But as the school year comes to a close, families still deserve a clear answer to a simple question: Is the plan working?

Back in March, district data showed literacy curriculum adoption in classrooms was hovering around 67%. We’re not letting up until SFUSD reaches 100%. Perhaps more concerning, in math, the district still hasn’t shared the implementation data this year.

From our perspective, this next phase of the work matters just as much as curriculum adoption itself. High-quality instructional materials only improve outcomes if they are consistently reaching students in classrooms every day.

That’s why our SF Kids Can’t Wait campaign is (still) pushing forward with urgency.

We’re demanding two critical next steps from SFUSD:

• A clear plan for increasing curriculum implementation across all schools, including a timeline with measurable milestones and accountability measures.

• Full release of math implementation data so we have a clear, shared picture of how far we are from full adoption.

We can’t close a gap we can’t see. Families have played a major role in holding the district accountable to strong implementation processes, and continued parent leadership will be critical in the year ahead. We invite you to get involved, and join our campaign for SFUSD’s kids.

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.

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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