SFUSD & UESF Announce Tentative Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Distance Learning During the 2020-2021 School Year

Press Release

San Francisco, CA (August 7, 2020) – The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) announced today that they have reached a tentative agreement in relation to distance learning for the upcoming school year. 

United Educators of San Francisco President Susan Solomon said, “Our members spent their summer break connecting with educators, students and families about how we could improve upon distance learning during this continued time of crisis. We took all of those voices and feedback to the bargaining table with us and believe that we have reached a tentative agreement that will set our educators and students up for the best distance learning experience possible. We know that nothing will ever fully replace in person instruction, but educators are excited to welcome our students and families back remotely for now and continue to work together on plans to get us safely back to our classrooms and schools.”

“We are unified in our commitment to each and every student having the best possible learning experience while learning from a distance. We heard from parents and students that they wanted more connection with their peers and teachers than was possible last spring. We are listening and share a commitment to making distance learning better this fall,” said Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews.

Crisis distance learning, as it is referred to in the tentative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), means instruction in which the student and teacher are in different locations and pupils are under the general supervision of a certificated District employee. This may include interaction, instruction, and check-ins between teachers and students through the use of a computer and the use of print materials, along with other means of remote learning.

The tentative agreement states teachers will provide daily live interaction with certificated employees and peers for no less than 120 minutes per day for purposes of instruction, progress monitoring, and maintaining school connectedness.  Teachers and other staff will work and be available during their normal contractual seven work hours. 

The MOU states, “Interactive instruction should include content that is consistent with student interaction with their teacher/classmates, content that engages a student in making a response, content that engages sighted students in a visual way, and that provides the bargaining unit member opportunities to provide the student encouragement and feedback.”

In accordance with state law SB98, the minimum daily instructional minutes for grades TK-K (180 daily minutes), 1-3 (230 daily minutes), 4-12 (240 daily minutes), and Continuation High School (180 daily minutes) are in effect for the 2020-2021 school year. Daily instructional minutes for students enrolled in Early Education Schools and California State Preschool Programs shall receive a maximum of 180 minutes of daily instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.

SFUSD will coordinate with school sites to provide students with adequate access to connectivity and technological devices to participate in the educational program and staff will be provided the necessary equipment and supplies in support of distance learning. SFUSD will provide a one-time stipend of $400 for costs associated with distance learning, including equipment, improving home internet bandwidth, use of phone, or instructional materials not provided by SFUSD. For those who need a workspace, the District will make a good faith effort to assign staff to available workspaces appropriate to their content area, provided it can do so in compliance with public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

UESF members will vote on the tentative agreement over the next few days and, pending ratification by UESF, the SF Board of Education will vote on the agreement at the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting on August 11. 

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