SFUSD Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week

Press Release

San Francisco (December 5, 2022) - The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) celebrates Inclusive Schools Week from Dec. 5 to 9, as part of its year-long celebration of all students in the district. This week, schools in the district will implement discussions and activities related to inclusive schools into their learning plans including read alouds, classroom presentations, bulletin boards, and assemblies. Districtwide events include a webinar featuring participants of the 1977 Section 504 sit-in at the Federal Building discussing San Francisco’s role in the Disability Rights movement and a virtual assembly featuring a Special Olympics athlete.

Additional events this week include webinars for families about Inclusion and Ability Awareness and Alternative Dispute Resolution and Disproportionality in Special Education and an online arts showcase featuring student submissions.

Inclusive Schools Week provides an opportunity for SFUSD educators and community members to educate students about disabilities and the intersection of disabilities with other categories of identity, like race, gender, class, cultural heritage, language preference and other differences.  Education and awareness can be a powerful tool to bridge across various differences and enable all students to find their voice and be appreciated for their unique selves. Inclusive Schools Week provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate and include all children. 

“Fostering a culture of inclusivity and celebrating our students’ strengths highlight SFUSD’s core values of social justice and diversity,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne. “Through participating in activities during Inclusive Schools Week, our communities can gain a deeper understanding of our diverse student population, who we celebrate every day of the year.”

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc., which is held each year during the first full week in December.  This year, the Inclusive Schools Week’s theme is “Unity Within Our Community…United we are stronger to focus on our common need—inclusive practices in our schools and in our communities!”

Resources for staff, families, and students can be found on the Inclusive Schools Week page on sfusd.edu and include various resources, activity and celebration ideas that represent the diversity of our SFUSD community.

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

• Dec. 8 (6:00 to 8:00 PM): Keynote Event: "Inclusion in San Francisco-From the Birthplace of the Disability Rights Movement to Today" featuring participants of the 1977 Section 504 sit-in at the Federal Building, inclusion advocates, and SFUSD staff (Presented in partnership with the Longmore Institute on Disability, Parents for Public Schools, and Support for Families)
• Dec. 9 (9:00 to 10:00 AM): SFUSD Inclusive Schools Week Special Olympics Assembly featuring Phillip Gonzales (Hosted by Thurgood Marshall Access)

Members of the media who wish to cover the keynote and/or Special Olympics assembly should 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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