San Francisco, CA: The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has officially made public the list of possible school closures and the process has been nothing short of chaotic. The lack of a clear and orderly process to the announcement has left little confidence in the school district’s ability to address all immediate concerns facing impacted students and families. The issuance of a list that is not final contributes to the existing confusion as parents and students try to determine how best to proceed. And it is unclear what criteria the district will use to determine whether a school will be removed or remain on the final list.
SFUSD is facing significant financial challenges including a $100 million budget shortfall, persistent staffing shortages, and declining student enrollment. Since 2012-13, SFUSD enrollment decreased by over 4,000, and by 2032, SFUSD will lose 4,600 more students. If it is unable to resolve the budget shortfall, the school district is facing a state takeover which will have devastating consequences for the entire district.
The projection of 11 school closures is estimated to save the district about $22 million dollars. To date, SFUSD has failed to provide a clear estimation of the savings and costs for the district and when it anticipates closing the budget shortfall. Historically, school closures have not contributed to savings, at least in the short term, for a variety of reasons including the cost of repurposing a school and the cost of providing resources for displaced students. SFUSD must demonstrate that school closures are part of a broader, strategic vision for the district’s future, rather than a short-term fix.
As impacted families navigate these difficult decisions, it is crucial that we prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable students. Services for English language learners and special education programs must be protected. This includes providing parents of English learners and students with special needs the option of choosing their welcoming school as well as ensuring that the welcoming school is well-resourced and supported through this process. Staff’s needs must also be taken into consideration, especially for special education services as well as language immersion programs if we want to ensure students’ long-term success. These programs are vital to ensuring equity in education and must remain a cornerstone of SFUSD’s mission.
SFUSD has also been unclear as to what constitutes a “closure” versus a “merger.” Families and school staff need clarity from the district in order to support students’ social and emotional needs as they transition to new schools or welcome new classmates and teachers.
“The school district’s focus must always prioritize student learning, and any decision regarding school closures should be made with the goal of enhancing educational outcomes. The community deserves clear, open communication moving forward. CAA calls on SFUSD to be transparent in its decision-making process and to involve all stakeholders in discussions before any final decisions are made,” states Annie Lee, Managing Director of Policy, Chinese for Affirmative Action.
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Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) was founded in 1969 to protect the civil and political rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial democracy in the United States. Today, CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander community. We advocate for systemic change that protects immigrant rights, promotes language diversity, and remedies racial and social injustice. You can learn more about us at caasf.org.
