Visual and Performing Arts Link to this section
The San Francisco community has long championed arts education, recognizing its vital role in fostering creativity and enriching students’ learning experiences. In 2004, voters approved the Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEEF), dedicating millions in annual school funding to support arts education. Since then, PEEF resources have expanded arts staffing in schools and strengthened district-wide arts programs. More recently, the introduction of Proposition 28 in 2023—Arts and Music in Schools—has provided additional funding to enhance arts education across all California schools, supporting positions, consultancies, and materials in every SFUSD school. The district takes great pride in these achievements, which have benefited thousands of students.
We remain committed to reaching all of our district’s historically marginalized students and breaking away from the Eurocentric approach to arts education. By challenging biases, dismantling stereotypes, and correcting false narratives, we move closer to our vision of truly inclusive arts learning. In June 2019, the Board of Education reinforced this commitment by passing the Resolution to Adopt the Declaration of the Rights of All Students to Equity and Access in Arts Learning (“Arts Resolution,” No. 195-28A1), officially establishing SFUSD as an arts equity district.
Currently, our current plan, Arts & Creativity 2025: SFUSD’s Arts Equity Plan has given the Arts Department the chance to build on what was working, adjust what wasn’t, and shine a spotlight on areas previously overlooked. As this plan sunsets and we look toward creating a new plan throughout the 2025-2026 school year, we will continue to draw on the power of arts and creativity to realize the community’s hopes for the students of SFUSD as we revise our plans for using arts education to make these aspirations the reality for every SFUSD student. Arts & Creativity 2025 meaningfully engages each and every student—including African-American students, students receiving special education services, students of other historically underrepresented races and ethnicities, and English learners —in experiences to develop and elevate their creative voices.
SFUSD will continue to pursue targeted strategies within three core priorities:
1. Equity and Excellence. Link to this section
SFUSD will ensure equity in arts and creativity programming and student outcomes. The district views “equity” and “excellence” as inherently interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and therefore will focus especially on students who typically are deprived of arts and creativity education, including students of historically disadvantaged racial groups, English learners, and students with special needs. To do this, the district will work to provide equitable arts access and participation, raise the quality of arts and creativity programming, center programming around students’ interests and cultures, and better leverage San Francisco’s myriad of arts resources.
2. Clarity and Coherence. Link to this section
SFUSD will align arts and creativity programming across school/department staff, community partners, and working artists. The Arts Department will strengthen both centrally-administered arts programs and its support to schools around their arts programs. Key strategies include the development of sequential, standards-based curricula via unpacking the CA Standards for the Arts; need-based resource assessments and allocation of diverse staffing; and the use of data to inform Arts programming. Additionally, the SFUSD Central Office will galvanize the San Francisco community around arts and creativity, growing more meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations, city agencies, philanthropy, and families to together provide students with meaningful arts experiences.
3. Data and Accountability. Link to this section
SFUSD will increase accountability through the use of data to foster a culture of continuous improvement in the arts. The Central Office annually collects and analyzes data on arts access, participation, quality, and outcomes, using equity as a lens through which to understand progress at the district, school, program, and student levels. The district will also annually report on its findings—ensuring that educators, families, and community partners have ready access to information on the arts—and incorporate the arts into district and school planning—ensuring that the arts are a part of the district and schools’ core goals and initiatives. On this foundation, SFUSD will build towards ongoing data-informed program improvements that ensure each and every student a robust arts education. Data measures will be reviewed by multiple advisory and decision-making bodies that include students, teachers, families, community members, and partners.
These three priorities—equity and excellence, clarity and coherence, and data and accountability—will outline how SFUSD can use arts and creativity to support each and every student to learn, explore, grow, and thrive in school, career, and life, continuing to build a roadmap to become a true Arts Equity District.
This page was last updated on August 5, 2025