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SFUSD is experiencing a structural deficit where our expenses outpace our revenue. As a result, the District is under a hiring freeze with increased fiscal oversight by the California Department of Education. In order to regain local control, SFUSD must balance our budget and stabilize the district. The $113.8M in cuts proposed for next year is one step towards regaining local control.
SFUSD remains committed to our ambitious student outcomes goals, and a qualified teacher in every classroom is key. For a second year, SFUSD is implementing a School Staffing Model to address trends of declining student enrollment and the nationwide teacher shortage.
The supplemental hiring process balances the district’s budget stabilization efforts with the need to fill critical vacancies and support student learning. It prioritizes essential positions while ensuring that discretionary funds are used responsibly and equitably across school sites. This approach helps maintain fiscal responsibility while allowing schools to address their unique staffing needs within the district’s broader budget constraints.
FAQs:
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What are the district’s Supplemental Hiring Guidelines?
The Supplemental Hiring Guide provides hiring instructions for site administrators during the 2025-2026 budget development process. It details how school communities may allocate site-specific discretionary funds to retain existing eligible positions or hire additional positions when CDE lifts the hiring freeze.
How do the Supplemental Hiring Guidelines work?
SFUSD is implementing the hiring guide to provide clarity to site administrators during the 2025-2026 budget development process. Schools may leverage site-specific discretionary resources for positions outside their staffing allocation. Positions fall into one of the four categories: Allowed, Conditional, On-Hold, and Not Permitted.
School communities will have to review their site-specific discretionary funds to determine if they have enough resources to fund the salary and benefits of the position they wish to hire.
School sites can use their school grants, PTA/PTSA/PTO funds, LCAP Supplemental/Concentration, LCFF equity multiplier funds, AP prep, and other discretionary restricted funds to hire additional positions beyond what is allocated in their school staffing model.
Why are out of classroom teacher positions on hold?
SFUSD is prioritizing efforts to ensure that every classroom is full and has a qualified teacher as part of our fiscal stabilization plan. Given the nationwide teacher shortage, this process places a strong emphasis on hiring classroom teachers first to ensure that every student has access to a qualified educator.
Hiring for Intervention Teachers, Instructional Coaches, and English Language Development (ELD) Teachers is on hold until SFUSD reaches its goal of having 92% of classroom positions filled by grade level. Once this target is met, eligible High Potential + VVGG Focal Schools will be the first to request these positions. After these sites have been served, all other schools will be eligible to fill these roles.
Why are you giving pink slips to out of classroom teacher positions that are being paid for with site specific discretionary funds?
School districts in California are required by state law to issue preliminary layoff notices by March 15 to employees who may be impacted by reductions. These preliminary notices are not final.
The District is committed to ensuring that every classroom is staffed by a qualified educator. Out-of-classroom positions are being eliminated and the employees in those roles will be consolidated into classroom teaching positions. Site discretionary funds can be used to fill positions in the allowed and conditional categories.
SFUSD will consider seniority and other tie-breakers to identify which employees will receive a preliminary notice. SFUSD is implementing a multi-prong budget balancing strategy to reduce the number of layoffs and maximize resources at schools, including reducing central office positions and contracts.
What is the current vacancy rate and how can you be sure the teachers in the out of classroom positions will take a classroom position? What happens if the person does not take the position?
The current teacher vacancy rate fluctuates, and SFUSD is actively working to track and address vacancies. SFUSD has committed to providing competitive compensation for our staff, and are looking at our fiscal picture carefully to ensure that we are able to retain talent. Educators in out-of-classroom roles who hold the necessary credentials will have the opportunity to transfer into classroom positions.
When will the hiring freeze end?
SFUSD is actively working with the Fiscal Advisors assigned by the California Department of Education (CDE) to balance our budget. While budget reductions are painful, it is critical that we regain local control and autonomy to fully invest in student outcomes. We are striving to demonstrate that we can meet our financial obligations over a multi-year period and maintain a healthy fund balance.
Our school has PTA money; why can’t we spend that money on what the school feels it needs the most?
Parent teacher organizations are 3rd-party organizations, and SFUSD does not determine how those funds are used. The Supplemental Hiring Guidelines provides information for these organizations to make strategic decisions in how they use their resources to support their specific school community. The guidelines are designed to ensure consistency and equity in school staffing practices across the district.
How can I share my questions about this process?
We strongly encourage that you participate in your School Site Council and engage in your school’s budget development process. Additionally, SFUSD will be providing multiple opportunities for public engagement on our stabilization efforts. You can also submit your budget-related questions via this Google Form.
This page was last updated on March 7, 2025