Item G.1 Workshop on Student Outcomes – Goal 1 Progress Monitoring Report (link here)
This was the main item for tonight’s meeting, so here’s some context borrowed from our Cheat Sheet:
SFUSD’s Goal 1: Grade 3 Literacy states, “The percentage of third-grade students reading at grade level as measured by state tests (SBAC ELA) will increase from 52% proficiency rate in October 2022 to 70% proficiency by October 2028.”
However, reading proficiency for SFUSD 3rd graders has actually declined since 2022, with only 49% of last year’s SFUSD 3rd graders meeting SBAC ELA proficiency standards. This is up 2% from the 2025 numbers, but is 13% below SFUSD’s goal for the 2025-26 school year.
While we are glad Dr. Su started off the discussion by sharing the district’s new public data dashboard, which can be found here: SFUSD Public Data Dashboard.
SFUSD Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services John Davis took the lead on the presentation, and it was refreshing to hear him talk a little more honestly than some of his predecessors. Some of the specific areas cited where the district is looking to improve:
- Instructional Walks
- Ensuring grade-level collaborations are effective (in terms of Goal 1)
- Naming systemic racism / the lower standards that exist for black/brown students, and increasing the rigor for them
The Board seemed to appreciate this ‘straight talk,’ and Dr. Su seemed to embrace it as well. President Kim asked for more specifics, to which Dr. Su responded that well-trained instructional coaches were needed, but otherwise they are still trying to identify those pieces. She also acknowledged that some schools will need additional resources (more coaching, offloading some admin from principals). Deputy Superintendent Davis also suggested Principal and AP professional development may be part of the solution.
Commissioner Fisher questioned whether teachers have enough support and capacity to implement everything being asked of them, particularly given class sizes and workload. She also raised concerns about combining kindergarten and first-grade classrooms.
Commissioner Alexander asked what the data shows about declining outcomes for English Learners and what may be driving those gaps.
Item G.2 Workshop On Student Outcomes- Interim Guardrail 4.1 Progress Monitoring Report (link here)
The headline is the positive one that we heard from Dr. Su before, that 96% of Gen Ed classrooms were staffed on the first day of school this year, up from 95% last year. Beyond that staff added
- More appropriately credentialed teachers than in any year since COVID (e.g. the teachers are assigned to subjects where they have more expertise)
- SFUSD has 98% sub coverage for vacancies, many days at 100%
- Beyond Gen Ed, there are still needs, and the district is running advertising to recruit for TK, SPED, Bilingual Education
Commissioner Huling pointed out that the District’s onboarding process still takes too long, which can result in losing candidates.
Commissioner Fisher asked about Pathway programs that help paraeducators become teachers. District staff said they currently don’t have the resources to support a Pathways program but may have a cost-neutral third-party provider that could offer this opportunity.