SFUSD Provides Progress Report on COVID-19 Response

Press Release

As the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) heads into the final days of the 2019-20 school year, the San Francisco Board of Education received an update on the district’s three main priorities during this time: attending to the wellness and wellbeing of students and families; providing free meals to all students who need them; and engaging each and every student in remote learning opportunities, both digital and non-digital. 

“I want to commend the tremendous effort that has been made by staff, students and families during these challenging times. As we plan for next Fall, we are reflecting on the lessons learned over the past two months so we can continue to improve how we serve our students and families during this pandemic and beyond,” said Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. 

SFUSD’s teacher-led interactive distance learning for all PreK-12 students has included approximately 4 hours of daily engagement instruction -- a strategic combination of educational, enrichment, and social-emotional activities. 

For students in grades 3-12, instruction has been mostly online thanks to robust technology support from SFUSD, made possible in part by generous donations. Through school distribution sites, central office pick-up sites, home deliveries, and postal service, SFUSD distributed 12,410 Chromebooks and 3,518 Hotspots to students in grades 3-12 in support of their education. The district has also partnered with the City of San Francisco to expand internet access for students living in public housing, and developed technology support resources for families.

For students in PK-2 grades, who are primarily engaged in non-digital distance learning, SFUSD distributed 30,000 learning kits, including books, to students and families. SFUSD also created a one-hour educational television show especially for PK-2 students that airs weekdays on KTVU Plus.

“The District has had to operate under horrendous circumstances. While we know our students haven’t been able to receive the well-rounded quality education they deserve during this time, it’s heartening to see how many have continued to engage in some way,” said School Board President Mark Sanchez. 

Staff also shared updates on providing meals to students and families. Since closing school buildings in March, SFUSD has distributed over 1.2 million meals to families at grab & go sites, home deliveries, employee pick-up at school sites, and more. Grab & go meal sites will continue through the summer and free meals will be available to all children. 

The Board also received initial findings from a districtwide wellness check. Information is being recorded in the same form across all 119 PreK-12 schools so that the district can assess the needs of students and their families and better support families in coordination with service providers. 

View the full presentation here.

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