February 24, 2021

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Dear SFUSD Families:

We are getting closer to opening our sites to students every day. Yesterday, the SF Board of Education approved an agreement between SFUSD and labor unions on baseline health and safety standards necessary for return to in-person learning. And, we know our community is extremely diverse and there are families who want to return and there are families who want to stay in distance learning at this time. We are committed to giving all of our students more options and opportunities.

Please keep reading today’s digest for important updates.

Return Safely Updates

SFUSD is committed to reopening as many schools as possible for in-person instruction as soon as all the necessary and agreed upon conditions are met, which include:

• Prioritizing school staff for vaccines,
• Moving out of the purple tier, and 
• Having the infrastructure for adequate staff and student surveillance testing.

San Francisco remains in the purple tier but is projected to shift to the red tier as early as next Tuesday based on declining case rates.

As of Feb. 24, individuals who work in education are eligible for vaccination in San Francisco. The City continues to experience vaccine supply shortages. SFUSD is working closely with the City and advocating on behalf of our employees. 

Here are some current events related to the return to in-person preparation process.

• SFUSD’s goal has been and continues to be to maximize daily in-person instruction for students, and to maintain as much consistency as possible by welcoming students back to the school in which they are enrolled. SFUSD’s proposal for hybrid learning plans outlines the criteria for the number of in-person learning days and instructional schedules for elementary school students. For more information about Instruction, see Did You Know section below.
• Negotiations between SFUSD and the teachers union United Educators for San Francisco (UESF) for the hybrid and in-person learning instructional plan continue. 
• On Feb. 23, SF Board of Education unanimously ratified: 
  • The tentative agreement between SFUSD and labor unions on baseline health and safety standards necessary for return to in-person learning, and 
  • An MOU to open an Assessment Center at John O’Connell High School to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which is projected to open in Red Tier regardless of availability of staff vaccines.
• In preparation for expanded student and staff COVID-19 surveillance testing, SFUSD posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) on the District website. The RFP closed on Feb. 22 and proposals are being evaluated in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH).
• Phase 2A families are encouraged to review the Return Safely Together Guide for Families (under Health and Safety Resources), which is available in 7 languages, in preparation for in-person learning when all conditions are met. The guide will be updated when more information becomes available. 

Distance Learning Updates

SFUSD continues to improve distance learning instruction. Last week over 1,000 elementary school students participated in a virtual Q&A event featuring the State Wolf Scientist. Learn about our initiative to strengthen science education during distance learning.

SF Loves Learning

Last week to celebrate Black History Month! (and then you can celebrate Black history in other ways for the REST OF THE YEAR). Find More New videos in our Black History Month Deck as ways to celebrate with your students.

Looking for Science based lessons, songs, movement pieces, read alouds?? Check out our first SF Loves Learning Teacher Resources Deck, Learning and Growing: The Needs of Plants and Animals.

“What do engineers do?” is next week’s theme on SF Loves Learning. Check out these segments that will air next week:

• Design Cycle (Daily Lesson): Meastra Meza introduces the Design Cycle (Learn, Plan, Make and Test) in order to create a hill that we can pull a car up.

• It's a Cycle (Song): This song is about the water cycle and talks about water as a vital resource. It also is about the bodies of water. 3/1/2021

• Strong like a Girl (Read Aloud): 

• Pushing and Pulling with Props in Dance (Movement): Ms. Joti and Mr. Bongo explore the forces of pushing and pulling in dance and use props to show many ways we incorporate them in movement.

You can search for any content from the show, and plan instruction for next week in these ways:

• Segments Library: Find any segment (read aloud, daily lesson, music, movement, community)!

• YouTube channel: Subscribe to this channel, explore the playlists, and receive notifications when new content is published.

SF Loves Learning is now airing every weekday, 8:30-9am on KTVU Plus and any time at sfusd.edu/sfloveslearning.

Resource Highlights

SFUSD COVID Family Relief Fund

The COVID-19 Family Relief Fund for SFUSD Families is raising money for SFUSD families in need. If you are able, please consider donating to the fund and sharing with others. You may choose to donate to any SFUSD family in need or a specific school. The SF Ed Fund will work with school site principals to identify families who will be supported by community donations.  

$500 Stimulus for SF Lower-Wage Workers and Families 

The City of San Francisco announced up to $500 in new financial support through tax credits and cash stimulus for  households eligible for the San Francisco Working Families Credit. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Did You Know?

In-person instruction refers to instruction that will take place at school sites as they open gradually for small cohorts of students.

What are the considerations behind the proposed hybrid learning plan?

The number of days for full-day instruction is determined by physical space, school enrollment, staffing, and family interest for in-person learning. The first groups of students who will be invited to return to in-person learning are in Phase 2A and include the youngest students (grades PK–2) and elementary students with disabilities in Moderate/Severe SDC classes. To learn more, read Getting elementary students back in classrooms or watch the video explainer. 

Learn more in this FAQ.

Bright Spot

Transitional kindergarten students at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School made art inspired by artist Reggie Laurent, emailed him to share and he responded - check out his message!

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthew