Student Success Fund Update

Originally posted on Apr. 28, 2023. 

Dear SFUSD community,

In November 2022, the San Francisco community came together and approved Proposition G, also known as the Student Success Fund (SSF). SSF provides additional funding that will benefit SF public schools. Using existing City funds, the initiative seeks to address longstanding systemic and societal inequities in public education through targeted, sustained, and robust funding for the next 15 years. 

I have been actively involved with SSF implementation. Working with District leaders and our partners at the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF), we are pleased to announce that the initiative will be launched in the coming days.

Over the next 5 years, the City will phase in the full contribution to the SSF. For year one, there will be $11 million available with the goal to strategically leverage these funds to improve student outcomes by supporting  our work to implement SFUSD’s Vision, Values, Goals, and Guardrails.

Year 1 funding has four funding priorities to support schools sites immediate needs as well as  support schools readiness to apply for funds that will be available in year 2 and beyond. The four priorities include:

1. Rapid Response: Flexible fund set aside for crisis and emergency needs from school sites. These one time funds will be accessible year round and available for short term, small amounts to address urgent needs. Resources will be limited to $25K per school.
2. Critical Non Core Staffing: Schools may identify critical non core staffing positions that schools need to be filled that currently do not have funding for the SY 2023-24. 
3. School Readiness: First year funds to support readiness at school site to hire community school coordinator to provide essential staffing to strengthen readiness and preparation grant application & implementation. These will be one time funds that would roll into school grant proposals.  Technical assistance and support to school through coaching, consulting, mentorship and training for School Site Council (SSC). 
4. Workforce Pipeline - Innovation Grant: This priority focuses on addressing workforce shortages in after school staffing, para professional staffing, and school social worker and school district nurse staffing.

As we are implementing this effort, we will be sharing additional information as they become available. SFUSD and DCYF developed this FAQ document to answer the questions associated with the grant program. 

These resources will sustain important strategies that can help transform our schools so that SFUSD students and families can thrive. I am grateful for the many ways that the San Francisco community is coming together to support SFUSD students and families.

In community,

Dr. Matt Wayne
SFUSD Superintendent