Strong Schools, Bright Future
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Strong Schools, Bright Future
Page 1
Student Learning
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Strong and Supported Schools
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Systemwide Stability & Effective Governance
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Read more about "Strong Schools, Bright Future"

Our Vision

In the San Francisco Unified School District, we are building a stronger future for public education in San Francisco — one where every student has access to excellent, inclusive, and creative schools.

While challenges like enrollment decline and teacher shortages persist nationwide, we are taking bold action to strengthen our schools, support our educators, and lay the groundwork for long-term success.

The fundamental responsibility of our schools is to prepare students for life and to create the next generation of leaders. To do this, we must elevate academic achievement, invest in early learning, and prepare students for college, careers, and the world.

That starts with delivering on the basic promises of education and holding ourselves accountable to doing so. We must deliver the resources, staffing, support, and programs to make every school a first-choice school.
Our students, no matter their circumstances, should be engaged, healthy, and learning in every SFUSD school throughout the city.

Our school district must be a strong, efficient, and trusted organization that serves students and staff well, builds a connection with the community SFUSD serves, and where every decision is based on improving student outcomes.

We have to embrace financial stability and good governance as key strategies in all of our decision-making, with a commitment to doing things well.

-Dr. Maria Su
Superintendent

Student Learning

The fundamental responsibility of our schools is to prepare students for life and to create the next generation of leaders. To do this, we must elevate academic achievement, invest in early learning, and prepare students for college, careers, and the world.

That starts with delivering on the basic promises of education and holding ourselves accountable to doing so. 

Focus on Foundational Skills
High-quality instruction, teacher support, and standardized curriculum rollout accompany targeted strategies to improve key indicators in 3rd grade literacy and 8th grade math.

College & Career Readiness for All
Expand access to post-secondary preparation for students. AP, dual enrollment, CTE, credit recovery, and career pathways to support every student’s future—no matter the direction they choose.

Delivering on Special Education
Commit to strengthening our special education services starting within our general education setting.

Early Interventions that Work
Identify learning difficulties early and providing timely, targeted support to ensure every student gets what they need to thrive.

Strong and Supported Schools

Our schools are the place where our students learn, our educators change lives, and the next generation of leaders are shaped.

We must deliver the resources, staffing, support, and programs to make every school a first-choice school.

Our students, no matter their circumstances, should be engaged, healthy, and learning in every SFUSD school throughout the San Francisco.

Every school will have a principal and qualified teachers, including a librarian, arts and PE instructors. Additional staffing will be tailored to meet student needs.

Strengthen and grow language immersion (specifically Mandarin and Spanish) and inclusive enrichment offerings to attract and retain families.

Create healthy, welcoming dining experiences that support student wellbeing.

Invest in TK classroom expansions and review facilities to increase enrollment capacity across the district.

Improve school facilities and strengthen access to mental health services so every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Invest in family engagement and neighborhood outreach so every school becomes a trusted anchor in their community.

Systemwide Stability & Effective Governance

Our school district must be a strong, efficient, and trusted organization that serves students and staff well, builds a connection with the community SFUSD serves, and where every decision is based on improving student outcomes.

We have to embrace financial stability and good governance as core values in all of our decision-making, with a commitment to doing things well.

Upgrade our systems like Frontline and Red Rover and improve attendance tracking tools to reduce learning loss and streamline school operations.

Advance the Real Estate Portfolio Master Plan, activate our philanthropic community, and deliver on bond programs to invest in student-ready facilities.

Achieve long-term financial stability, meet compliance benchmarks, and return to full local governance through transparent and effective leadership.

Vision Link to this section

The community’s long-term (10+ year) expectations for what SFUSD students will know and be able to do

All SFUSD students will graduate as independent thinkers with a sense of agency who have attained academic and creative skills to lead productive lives and contribute to our community.

Mission Statement Link to this section

The mission statement is how the District will achieve its vision:

Every day we provide each and every student the quality instruction and equitable support required to thrive in the 21st century.

Values Link to this section

The community’s global non-negotiables that must be honored while in pursuit of the vision
Student centered, Fearless, United, Social justice, Diversity driven

Student-Centered: We put students' needs first with a focus on the whole child.

Fearless: We persist through challenges with humility, transparency, and a growth mindset.

United: We celebrate and build on each other's strengths and differences to collectively achieve excellence as a district. 

Social Justice: We stand with those who are most impacted by systems of oppression and actively change those systems within our district.

Diversity-Driven: We respect and seek to understand each person to be an inclusive and anti-racist district.

Goals Link to this section

The community’s mid-term (5-year) expectations for what SFUSD students will know and be able to do
A small group of students viewing a tablet

Third-grade literacy: The percentage of ALL 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 2027.

8th-grade math: The percentage of ALL eighth-grade students performing math at grade level as measured by the state tests (SBAC Math) will increase from 42% proficiency rate in October 2022 to 65% proficiency by October 2027.

College/career readiness: The percentage of all high school 12th graders who are “college/career ready“ as defined by the California Department of Education will increase from 57.5% in June 2020 to 70% by June 2027.

Guardrails Link to this section

The community’s specific non-negotiables that must be honored while implementing the goals

Effective Decision-Making: The superintendent will not make major decisions without utilizing a process–that includes meaningful consultation with the parents/guardians, students, and staff who will be impacted by those decisions–at the inception, adoption, and review.

Serving The Whole Child: The superintendent will not take approaches that neglect the cognitive and academic development, social and emotional development, identity development, physical and mental well-being, or ethical and moral development of students.

Curriculum and Instruction: The superintendent will not allow curriculum and instruction that is not rooted in excellence, challenging and engaging, not student-centered, not culturally responsive, or not differentiated to meet the academic needs of all students.

Resource Allocation: The superintendent will not allow resources to be allocated without transparently communicating how the allocations are baseline sufficient to operate all schools while addressing inequitable inputs and creating more equity and excellence in student outcomes.

Strategic Partnerships: The superintendent will not impede collaboration with the City of San Francisco, state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, philanthropic organizations, and the business community to advance the District’s goals and values.

Interim Goals and Guardrails Link to this section

The Board approves the Vision, Values, Goals, and Guardrails (VVGG), and the superintendent
identifies interim goals and guardrails to measure progress toward the goals and guardrails. The Board does not approve the interims.

Even after the goals and guardrails are adopted, the interim goals and guardrails may be modified based on the following:

  • An assessment of the potential effectiveness of interim goals predicting success for the goals
  • Possible updates to our internal assessment system to ensure we have the best measures
  • Feedback from staff regarding the interim measures

View the interim goals and guardrails for 2023-24  updated as of January 24, 2024

Who We Are Link to this section

As we work toward changing the system so that it truly is able to serve all students, we must have a strong set of core values and core beliefs that will guide us through the challenges that will come our way.

This page was last updated on June 18, 2025