Back to School 2025-26

Dear SFUSD Students and Families, 

I’m delighted to welcome you back for the 2025-26 school year! Our incredible principals, teachers, and support staff have been working tirelessly to ensure a warm and successful return to the classroom. I look forward to reconnecting with our students, families, and staff on the first day and throughout what promises to be an exciting and inspiring school year.

With the summer break coming to an end and the new school year upon us, I want to share some important information to help your family prepare for the upcoming school year: 

Getting Ready for School Link to this section

Your child may experience different emotions as we get closer to the beginning of the school year. It is important that families, students, educators, and staff support one another during this time. We have included some tips to help you support your child for their transition back to school. 

Safety and Health  Link to this section

In SFUSD, the safety of our students and staff will always remain our top priority. Each year, our school sites are responsible for completing a Comprehensive School Safety Plan to create a safe and secure learning environment for our students and staff. Learn more about other safety protocols in place at our school sites. 

In addition, we want to stress the importance of getting your child vaccinated before the first day of school. Required immunizations are essential to protecting your child and those around them from serious diseases. Learn how you can keep your child and our school communities healthy. 

Forms  Link to this section

Each school year brings important forms for you to fill out before the school year starts. You can find a checklist of these forms in this guide. 

Family Communication and Partnership  Link to this section

We deeply value family partnerships to best support students’ learning. Learn how you can support your child’s education. Explore opportunities to get involved in your school community and across the district. 

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. We’re looking forward to a wonderful school year filled with joyful learning, meaningful connections, and continued growth.

In community, 

Dr. Maria Su, Superintendent 

The first day of school is August 18, 2025. Link to this section

Complete this checklist before the first day of school: Link to this section

• Make sure your child has met all the health requirements and is up to date on all immunizations. Visit sfusd.edu/HealthRequirements for more information.
• Complete your Emergency Contact Card so we can get in touch with you in the event of an emergency. Visit sfusd.edu/EmergencyCard for more information.
• Submit the 2025-26 SFUSD Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF) at SchoolCafe.com to qualify for school benefits, help increase funding for classroom supplies, school staff salaries, and more to support your student’s learning. Visit sfusd.edu/MFIF for more information on how to apply.
• Complete the acknowledgement form on ParentVUE to confirm that you have received the information on page 3 of this mailer about how to access the SFUSD Student and Family Handbook. Visit sfusd.edu/acknowledgements for more information and tutorials.
• Update your contact information on ParentVUE to receive important phone, email and text notifications from your school and SFUSD. Visit sfusd.edu/ContactInfo for more information and tutorials on updating your contact information in ParentVUE.

The Handbook is an important resource for you and your SFUSD student(s). It contains information about your legal rights, SFUSD resources, and academic and behavioral expectations of SFUSD students. View, download, or order a print copy of the Handbook online at any time at sfusd.edu/handbook. 

ParentVUE is an SFUSD-approved online portal that offers secure, private access to your student’s school information, including:

• Attendance: Report your child’s absence from school.
• Grades and report cards: View assignments, progress, term grades (middle and high  school), and report cards.
• Online application and forms: Apply to SFUSD schools, and submit required forms and documents such as immunization records and your emergency card.
• District and school communications: Learn how to update your contact information at sfusd.edu/contactinfo to make sure you receive important school and district notifications.
• Student login information: View your student’s login information to SFUSD digital learning platforms.

Activate your account by going to sfusd.edu/activate or learn more at sfusd.edu/ParentVUE.

Required Immunizations

Make sure your student is up to date on all required immunizations by school entry on August 18 to reduce the risk of exclusion. State law (bit.ly/CAVaccineLaw) requires that children in California receive certain immunizations to attend school. Schools are required to enforce these requirements, maintain immunization records, and submit reports. There may be a wait for immunization appointments with your healthcare provider, so get started as soon as possible. For more information, go to sfusd.edu/immunizations.

Physical Examination for Any TK, Kindergartener or New First-Grader Not Required, But Strongly Recommended for School Entry

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends annual well child exams until a child turns 19. Physical exams are crucial for early detection and management of potential health issues, routine monitoring of growth and development, and ensuring your child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The TK/kindergarten/first grade physical exam requirement is not required for school entry, however it is still strongly recommended. If available, please submit documentation of your child's physical exam on the school health form to sflink@sfusd.edu.

Oral Health (Dental Check Up)

California law (Education Code Section 49452.8) states your child must have a dental check-up by May 31 of their first year in public school. A California licensed dental professional operating within his scope of practice must perform the check-up and fill out Section 2 of this form. If your child had a dental check-up in the 12 months before they started school, ask your dentist to fill out Section 2. If you are unable to get a dental check-up for your child, fill out Section 3. 

Your student’s safety is of the utmost importance to SFUSD.

Each year, school sites are responsible for completing a Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) to address campus risks, prepare for emergencies, and create a safe, secure learning environment for students and school personnel.

Part of this plan requires school sites to train students and staff on what to do in case of various emergency situations.  SFUSD partners with the “I Love U Guys” foundation to implement the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) which is a flexible, action-based and easy to learn system for use in response to any number of incidents that might occur on school campuses.  Information about SRP for families can be found here in English, Spanish and Chinese, as well as at Back to School Night and parent education nights on school campuses.

Additionally, the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) is available for use for SFUSD 6th-12th grade students in middle, K-8, and high schools. Schools provide training and students are able to report any type of serious concerns about students who may be struggling or potentially violent via the anonymous tip line.

In the unlikely event of an emergency at your student’s school, learn how we notify families. To ensure we can reach you, make sure your contact information is up to date in ParentVUE and your emergency card is accurate.

SFUSD provides safe and reliable transportation to and from school for eligible students and activities, including the following:

• Curb-to-curb transportation for students with IEPs
• General Education busing prioritized for focal students, with limited capacity
• Site support for planning and scheduling of Field Trips
• Transportation bus service for paid, athletic, and art program trips

Visit sfusd.edu/transportation for more information. For transportation support questions, please email the SFUSD Transportation team at transportation@sfusd.edu.

Muni

The SFMTA will continue running its “school trippers” in the fall. These buses meet students at the end of the school day near some of the city's largest middle and high schools. 

Muni will be continuing its Free Muni for Youth program. All youth under the age of 19 will be able to ride Muni without proof of payment. For more information on Free Muni, visit sfmta.com/FreeMUNI4Youth.

It takes a village to nourish our students. 

SFUSD’s Student Nutrition Services (SNS) provides nutritionally balanced meals to students at our Early Education and TK-12 schools; every SFUSD School Site and every SFUSD Student.

SNS is committed to providing students the equitable support they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond, by keeping them nourished along the way. We strive to create a student-centered, equitable, and financially stable school food ecosystem with thriving employees that provides dignified meal experiences and engages all students in a positive and strong food culture. You can find your menus at sfusd.edu/menus. 

Since 2022, thanks to California Meals for All and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), SNS can serve one Breakfast and one Lunch at no cost to all students. Supper is available for San Francisco youth 18 and younger at participating afterschool programs, you can find a list on our website sfusd.edu/schoolfood. 

Learn more about our nutritious school meals at sfusd.edu/SchoolFood

We have ambitious goals for the public school students of San Francisco. The Board of Education Parent Involvement Policy 6020 (sfusd.edu/BP6020) recognizes that families are their children's first and most influential teachers and that sustained involvement in the education of their children contributes greatly to student achievement and a positive school environment.

SFUSD has both districtwide and school site advisory and community groups who bring diverse ideas to produce a more comprehensive shared plan for school improvement. The most effective councils and committees use data and direct experience with their schools to guide decision-making. They make a concerted effort to achieve authentic participation of staff and families, work closely with school principals and educators, and develop solutions that are monitored for effectiveness.

Learn about SFUSD advisories and councils: sfusd.edu/AdvisoryCouncils

Learn about your rights as a parent: sfusd.edu/ParentRights

For more, go to sfusd.edu/directory. 

Going back to school or starting school for the first time can be an anxious and exciting time for children. Review these tips for supporting your children as they start the new school year.

• Prepare: Rehearse rituals such as picking out an outfit before school. Adjust your sleep schedules as needed before the first day of school.
• Predictability: Establish predictable and simple schedules for the school week. Make a list of things to bring to school.
• Patience: Have patience during the transition for yourself and your children, as there might be some behavior changes due to stress or anxiety.

And don’t forget to celebrate! 

There are many ways to stay in touch with SFUSD:

• Subscribe to the weekly Family Announcement Bulletin (FAB) at sfusd.edu/FAB.
• Visit our website at sfusd.edu. Find your child’s school website by visiting sfusd.edu/SchoolDirectory.
• Stay connected through ParentVUE.

We’re on Facebook, Instagram, and X at @SFUnified. View our videos on YouTube at @SanFranciscoUnified. Follow us on Facebook in Spanish at @SFUSDenEspanol.