Superintendent Su Announces Plans for Expanding Language Immersion Offerings

Please note: The third paragraph of this press release was updated on July 23, 2025 to reflect information about the donation.

San Francisco (July 16, 2025) - Superintendent Dr. Maria Su today announced plans to expand and strengthen Chinese bilingual education at San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). This initiative – spurred by new philanthropic support – builds on SFUSD’s national leadership in dual language education and responds to demand for high-quality multilingual programs by expanding access to Chinese dual language immersion (DLI) instruction, strengthening teaching and learning by cultivating bilingual educator pipelines, and leveraging partnerships with leading experts, educators, and administrators.

To help guide this effort, Superintendent Su will retain the support of former SFUSD principal Liana Szeto, who founded Alice Fong Yu K-8, the nation’s first Chinese Immersion public school. Szeto, who recently retired after 30 years at Alice Fong Yu, will serve as a Special Advisor to the Superintendent starting in January 2026. Szeto will lead the implementation of a new comprehensive K–8 Mandarin Dual Language Immersion school, as the district moves forward with its plans under her guidance. 

This work is made possible through funding provided by Spark SF Public Schools and the San Francisco Foundation, made possible by the Lois M. Meyer Fund. Dr. Lois M. Meyer was a Professor Emerita and former chair of the Department of Language, Literacy & Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico. Prior to UNM, she was an Associate Professor in the Department of Elementary Education at San Francisco State University. As a strong advocate for and researcher of second language acquisition, bilingualism and bilingual education, and teacher preparation and curriculum development for linguistically and culturally diverse classroom, she directed her bequest for the advancement of bilingualism and language diversity in Bay Area public education.

With a decades-long legacy of success anchored in academic excellence, SFUSD’s language programs help students achieve high academic outcomes, gain multilingual language proficiency and foster cross-cultural understanding. This initiative is aligned with Dr. Su’s broader vision to ensure that all students have access to education that prepares them to serve as effective global citizens in San Francisco and beyond.

Key Strategies

• Bilingual Teacher Pipeline Development: In collaboration with the Association of Asian American Administrators (AAAA), The Association of Chinese Teachers (TACT), and San Francisco State University, SFUSD will expand teacher certification pathways and develop targeted training programs to grow and sustain a high-quality bilingual educator workforce.
• Human Resources Improvements: SFUSD will improve processes for certification of bilingual educators and streamline hiring practices for Dual Language Immersion teachers.
• New Mandarin Dual Language Immersion School: SFUSD will move forward with plans to launch a wall-to-wall K–8 Mandarin Dual Language Immersion school. Implementation of this program will be led by former Alice Fong Yu K-8 School, Founding Principal Liana Szeto.
• Family and Community Partnerships: Through close collaboration with the Asian Parent Advisory Committee (Asian PAC), SFUSD will incorporate parent voices, community values, and cultural strengths to guide program development and ensure authentic community engagement.
   

“I am thrilled to take SFUSD’s multilingual education to the next level, starting with our Chinese language immersion programs,” said Dr. Maria Su, SFUSD Superintendent. “This plan will build on a strong foundation to cultivate the next generation of bilingual teachers and expand our language programs so that every SFUSD student has the skills to unlock opportunities no matter where they are in the world. I am so grateful to partner with an incredible cohort of nationally-recognized educators and administrators who have paved the way in this area, and to partner with SFUSD parents to realize this vision.”

“The Board of Education is focused on ensuring we make progress towards our goals. Expanding multilingual education represents exactly the kind of strategic investment in our students' futures that we must prioritize,” said Phil Kim, President of the SF Board of Education. “This work builds on a solid foundation to prepare future bilingual teachers and broaden language opportunities for all students. By working closely with dedicated educators, administrators, and families, we are holding ourselves accountable to create programs that truly meet community needs and open doors for every student in our diverse city.”

This work will build on SFUSD’s long history as a national leader in language immersion programs. Expanding access to language immersion programs is part of Superintendent Su’s strategy to strengthen SFUSD schools. In alignment with SFUSD’s commitment to continuous improvement, the district consistently evaluates its language pathway programs to ensure they are responsive to community needs, informed by current research, and aligned with best practices in language instruction. SFUSD’s goal is to maintain high-quality, robust programs that reflect both instructional excellence and equitable access.

Spark SF Public Schools is the official nonprofit partner of the SFUSD. Over the past decade, Spark has directed more than $140 million toward programs that support students’ success across the entire district.

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