Dear SFUSD Champions and Supporters,
Thanks for staying with us in this work. For five years now, every time you’ve showed up—at a board meeting, in a classroom, or at the kitchen table—our schools have gotten a little stronger.
This last week brought both bright spots and hard truths.
At last Tuesday’s board meeting, the district shared new student outcomes data. The key takeaway: SFUSD is far from on track—but—where schools used the new curriculum and consistent coaching, students did better. The path is clear. That’s why we’re (still) driving our SF Kids Can’t Wait campaign and have another set of four demands of SFUSD this year (details below).
It was also a big news week for our public schools: a high school–the Academy–was suddenly announced it will be closed at the same time a new school in SOMA was announced to be opened. As SFUSD moves into school closure territory again, it is more important than ever that parents demand transparency from the district on: 1) how they’re making these decisions, 2) a clear rationale and demonstration of why students’ education will be improved as a result, and 3) a plan for meaningful school community engagement before (not after) each decision is made. We’re not sure these things happened this time around, and we’re bringing our questions forward to SFUSD. We learned too many lessons the last time around for them to make the same mistakes again.
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2024-25 Student Outcomes
Literacy: Early Challenges, Staying Optimistic
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Last week’s Progress Monitoring Report from SFUSD gave a mixed picture. Third grade literacy dipped slightly in 2024–25. This is disappointing, yes. We’re not entirely surprised to see this though, as first-year “growing pains” are (unfortunately) common when districts initially adopt new curriculum. The important question is: Are we building a strong system that will begin to deliver results for kids?
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There are some hopeful signs. A number of historically lower-performing schools made gains, proof that with the right supports, every school can accelerate learning. And Spark SF’s Ready, Set, Read! report showed promising growth even in a rollout year: first grade proficiency rose 7 points (55% → 62%), kindergarten gained 4 points (65% → 69%), and second grade held steady at 61%—a year when most districts fall backwards.
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This year’s 3rd graders also started stronger, with 61% proficient in STAR Reading compared to 56% the year before.
What about math?
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Math improvements were modest but meaningful. Eighth grade proficiency ticked up, with the strongest growth in schools that had stable leadership and consistent use of the new curriculum. Pilot classrooms outperformed their peers, proving what we’ve said all along: aligned curriculum delivers when teachers are supported.
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SFUSD’s Algebra efforts, though uneven, showed bright spots. Francisco Middle School’s department-wide collaboration—teachers meeting regularly, aligning pacing, and analyzing student work together—helped students thrive.
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This year, every math teacher will use the adopted curriculum, have dedicated release time for professional learning, and principals will deepen their use of data. These are hopeful steps toward a strong math program that will work better for kids.
SFUSD is not on track yet. But with consistent implementation, targeted supports, and real accountability, we think they can get there.
If you want to go deeper into BOE meetings and our reviews of them, check out the SF Parents BOE Cheat Sheets and Summaries on our website.
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The district’s report gives us simultaneous hope and pause: while there are bright spots, the pace of change can be slow, and racially-predictable achievement gaps remain unacceptable. This is why our SF Kids Can’t Wait campaign is still going strong. We’ve already proven what’s possible. Together, we’ve secured big wins for kids:
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Pushed SFUSD to adopt evidence-based literacy and math curricula
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Advanced compensated teacher training and coaching supports
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Helped parents understand their students’ data and elevated their concerns through our Read to Lead workshops
But these wins are only the beginning. To truly raise the bar and close the gap, SFUSD must take urgent actions this year:
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Help struggling students right away with small groups or intensive support.
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Tell families how their kids are doing by reviewing STAR, SBAC, and report card data at parent conferences.
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Implement the new math and literacy curriculum with integrity, ensuring every student in every classroom is benefitting from the programs.
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Support teachers all year, not just once, through compensated training, lesson planning, and coaching.
We know what works: strong curriculum, well-supported teachers, honest data, and informed parents. What we’re still looking for is consistent, system-level follow-through.
What’s next: We’re pressing on SFUSD to make budget decisions that put student learning first—our parent leaders are calling for accountability and equity in outcomes.
Join us. Change doesn’t happen without parents and teachers like you. Sign up with Geri@SFparents.org to get plugged in and drive more wins for kids.
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Together, we’ll help your child finish the year strong and step into the next grade with confidence.
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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.
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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