SFUSD Preparing to Offer In-Person Learning at Some Schools Beginning April 12

Posted Date

SFUSD Preparing to Offer In-Person Learning at Some Schools Beginning April 12

Press Release

San Francisco (March 5, 2021) - San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews and San Francisco Board of Education President Gabriela Lopez announced today that SFUSD is on track to offer in-person learning options at a select number of schools for the District’s youngest students (those in Phase 2A) starting on April 12, 2021. Additional students will be offered in-person options before the end of April.

With the support of mediation from President of the Board of Supervisors, Shamann Walton, SFUSD has reached a tentative agreement with the teachers union to return as many students as possible in focal groups to nearly a full school day, 5 days a week. With few exceptions, elementary students will stay with their teacher. SFUSD will follow public health and safety guidelines with regards to physical distancing in classrooms.

“This is an important step on our path to reopening schools. We continue to be committed to ensuring every student and family in the San Francisco United School District is receiving the support they need,” Board President Lopez said. “Whether it be parents and caregivers trying their best to support their children, or teachers working nonstop to support learning during a pandemic. We're all in this together.” 

SFUSD’s goal has been and continues to be to provide more options and opportunities for students to learn. The District has been preparing to offer in-person instruction to those who want to return this school year and will also continue to provide distance learning for the remainder of the school year that ends in June.

“We are enthusiastic to share this progress and we also know that some students and families who want to return will not be able to at this time,” Superintendent Matthews said. “We recognize that distance learning is not ideal for most students and many families have struggled with a full year of distance learning. We truly wish we could reopen schools for everyone.”

Preparations are ongoing to return to in-person learning. SFUSD is implementing a staff vaccination program per the health and safety agreement with labor unions. SFUSD continues to work to expedite vaccinations for all staff members who are a critical part of the District’s return to in-person learning. This week, SFUSD sent 4,000 personalized priority access codes to staff.

The District will not reopen any schools until the District can implement all health and safety measures required by the SF Department of Public Health and agreed upon with labor unions. The District will be sharing more detailed information on Monday. 

Reopening applications for Wave 1 schools have been approved by the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH). DPH inspections for Wave 2 schools began this week, and preparations for Wave 3 school inspections are underway.

About SFUSD

SFUSD is the seventh largest school district in California, educating over 56,000 preK-12 students every year. San Francisco is both a city and a county; therefore, SFUSD administers both the school district and the San Francisco County Office of Education (COE). This makes SFUSD a “single district county.”

More information regarding SFUSD’s preparations for in-person learning:

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