SFUSD Opens to Full In-Person Learning for 2021-2022 School Year

Press Release

San Francisco (August 16, 2021) - The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has resumed in-person learning full time at all schools, five days a week. SFUSD has put in place safety standards and protocols at every campus to welcome students back for the 2021-22 school year.

“Students are excited to be with their teachers and peers in person again. I could see their smiling faces even through their masks,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. “The pandemic has brought many hardships to our students, families and staff and the transition this fall may be challenging. For the first few weeks of school, all our schools will be focusing on fostering a sense of belonging and cultivating a positive school climate.”

“This is a new day for San Francisco students and staff. We’re all together again in person and eager to capture many of the lessons we learned through the pandemic to make our student experience even better than before,” said SF Board of Education President Gabriela Lopez. 

All staff, students, and visitors at schools must self-screen for COVID-19 before coming to a district facility or school everyday/everytime; stay home when sick; wear face masks at all times while indoors, except when eating or drinking; and wash or sanitize hands frequently.

All SFUSD employees will be required to be fully vaccinated unless they have a documented medical or religious exemption. Anyone who is not yet vaccinated will be required to test for COVID at least weekly. 

In compliance with San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines, every SFUSD classroom has operable windows, portable air cleaners, or mechanical ventilation.

SFUSD has created three weeks of lesson plans for every grade level and other resources to support launching the year with an emphasis on students feeling safe, welcomed, valued, and celebrated as they return to in-person learning.

On Aug. 12, SFUSD announced it has reached a tentative agreement with its labor partners regarding health and safety standards in schools and district facilities.

SFUSD will continue coordinated care teams in the fall. During distance learning, coordinated care teams assisted with supporting students. School social workers will continue to support students and families through case management and connecting them with community-based organizations that provide services.

SFUSD will offer free meals for all students this school year regardless of family income, thanks to the federal waiver to allow the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option through the 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, SFUSD students can take advantage of the extended Free MUNI for Youth program. All youth ages 18 and under will be able to ride MUNI without proof of payment. Many routes will be restored and changed in August as schools reopen and School Trippers will be expanded. For more information about routes to school, visit SFMTA.com/Muni2School. For more information on Free MUNI, visit SFMTA.com/FreeMUNI4Youth.

About SFUSD

SFUSD is the seventh largest school district in California, educating over 54,000 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.”

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