SFUSD Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week

Press Release

San Francisco (December 6, 2021) - The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) celebrates Inclusive Schools Week from Dec. 6 to 10. The week’s virtual events include a young adult discussion panel on reimagining and reconnecting with inclusive communities, a webinar for families about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), a workout led by the Special Olympics of Northern California and the San Francisco 49ers, an assembly featuring a Special Olympics athlete, and an online arts showcase featuring student submissions.

Historically, Inclusive Schools Week has been an opportunity to honor all students with disabilities as full members of our school communities. In recent years it has also become an opportunity to learn and teach about the intersection of disabilities with other categories of identity, like race, gender, class, cultural heritage, language preference and other differences. Inclusive Schools Week provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure our schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate and include all children. 

“SFUSD strives to make every single student feel included and celebrated in our schools all year long,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. “Through participating in activities during Inclusive Schools Week, our communities can gain a deeper understanding of our incredibly diverse student population.”

The theme for Inclusive Schools Week this year is "Rebuilding Our Inclusive Community Together,” recognizing the opportunity to reimagine how schools can direct talent, time and energy to strengthen a commitment to inclusive education.  

Schools in the district will implement relevant discussions and activities into their learning plans. Resources for staff, families, and students can be found on the Inclusive Schools Week page on sfusd.edu and include the 2021 Inclusion Resource Guide and the Inclusive Schools Week Bitmoji Classroom. A new resource for 2021 includes a tutorial on building a “Peace Corner,” a quiet, welcoming space where students can calm themselves.

The schedule of events*, which will all take place via Zoom, is as follows:

• December 6 (4:00 to 5:00PM): Special Olympics Northern California (SONC) Unified Fitness 49ers Virtual Event 
• December 8 (6:00 to 8:00PM): IEP Myths and Facts, Session #2 of the Parent Education Institute (Sponsored by SFUSD’s Alternate Dispute Resolution program and Support for Families with Children of Disabilities)
• December 9 (9:00 to 10:00AM): SFUSD Inclusive Schools Week Special Olympics Assembly (Hosted by Thurgood Marshall Access) 
• December 9 (6:30 to 7:30PM): Young Adult Inclusion Panel - Rebuilding Our Inclusive School Communities
• December 10: Deadline for SFUSD students to submit work for SFUSD’s Online Inclusive Arts Showcase

Members of the media who wish to cover any of the above events should register at sfusd.edu and RSVP at newsline@sfusd.edu in order to receive the Zoom link information.

SFUSD has been celebrating Inclusive Schools Week during the first week in December since 2010, when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a Mayoral Proclamation on Inclusive Schools Week. In 2013, the SF Board of Education issued a resolution on Guiding Principles Regarding Inclusive Education Practices for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

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