Frequently Asked Questions About In-Person Interest Surveys

This survey is for high school seniors (i.e., students in Grade 12) who were not already surveyed in prior phases.

We are collecting information to get a sense of how many students are interested in returning to in-person opportunities and that is why we are surveying you. We ask that you complete the brief survey and share your interest. This information will help us plan and we will be able to give more details around specific programming and staffing. 

SFUSD is working on more opportunities for high school seniors who are celebrating this milestone in life to come together in the last weeks of school. We are exploring ideas to offer an opportunity to connect with other seniors before the end of the school year, including time for college and career assistance, tutoring/study hall, and/or wellness support. 

These opportunities will only be available to students who are registered or signed up; therefore, it is critical that you respond to the survey if you are interested in participating these types of activities in person this spring.

No. This survey is not related to in-person graduations. This survey would apply to activities that may be offered for a few weeks before graduation. 

It is likely that students will have limited days of the week and times to participate (e.g., 1 to 2 days per week in person). Activities will be hosted at a select few high school host sites, probably not at your regular school site, and will be supervised by adult staff from various schools across SFUSD.  Social distancing and health and safety guidelines will be enforced.

While in-person opportunities may be offered to all seniors who respond ""yes"" to indicate they are interested in in-person opportunities, these activities would likely occur no more than 1 to 2 days per week and will probably not be at your regular school site or with the staff from your school. 

Given how close we are to graduation, these opportunities will only be available to students who are registered or signed up; therefore, it is critical that you respond to the survey if you are interested in participating in these types of activities in person this spring. 

We understand that circumstances change. Students or families may decide at any time to withdraw their choice to return to in-person activities and continue distance learning. 

We invite you to learn more about the safety protocols SFUSD has established and what will be expected of students and staff when their school reopens. These include the following:

• Promoting behaviors that reduce spread (e.g., staying home when sick, daily health screenings, getting tested when recommended, physical distancing, washing hands and wearing face coverings) 
• Maintaining healthy environments (e.g., ensuring proper ventilation, regular testing, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces)  
• Maintaining healthy operations (e.g., staggering schedules, keeping students in small groups)
• Preparing for when someone gets sick (e.g., contact tracing, notifications)

Students will remain with their current teacher when they return for in-person learning. Your response to the question that asks if you would consider sending you student to attend class with a different teacher tells us what your preference is as we plan. That said, our goal is to keep students with their current teacher. There is an exception: students may be reassigned to other teachers in the same grade level at the same site to enable the teacher to provide instruction in person for as many days as possible.

Your response to the question "Do you plan to send your student to attend school in-person when a space is offered?" indicates to us whether or not to offer your student a seat in-person or to offer a distance learning seat. To the extent possible we will aim to offer you a seat that matches how you respond to this question.
Your answers to the following questions regarding schedules, number of days in-person, and teacher assignment indicate preferences. Your answers to these questions will not exclude you from receiving an in-person seat if the schedule offered differs from the preference you indicated. We will take these into consideration as part of planning.

We are currently using a maximum of 14 students per class for planning. In cases where more than 14 students in one class want to return to in-person learning, we will pursue the following options, with the goal of providing as many in-person instruction days as possible:
We may assign students to another teacher at their school if another teacher has capacity in their class, up to 14 students.
If all teachers have 14 students, we may adjust class size capacity. We will aim to maintain 4 feet of distance between desks in this case.
Lastly, once both of the above have been used to maximize capacity and if there are still more students to accommodate in person, we may move to a schedule with fewer days of in-person instruction to allow all students at least some in-person learning time.

No new trainings are planned at this point. Staff will continue to work with sites to gather feedack and provide support. The BRIT trainings are updated regularly to reflect current guidance

We understand that circumstances change. Families may decide at any time to withdraw their choice to return to in-person learning and continue distance learning. They may decide at a later date that they would like to return to in-person learning and SFUSD will offer an in-person placement when one becomes available again.

Teachers will be permitted to teach remotely and a substitute teacher will be assigned. We have to give at least two weeks notice to staff, designate 4 teacher workdays before students return. Everyone gets an assignment letter to come back and teachers can request an accommodation. A process is starting this week for teachers to receive those assignment notices.

Families who responded to the survey that they want to return to in person will be given a placement. Those who did not respond and/or who wish to change their response, are asked to share your updated preference with your school site. Each school site will make the determination regarding whether or not your student can be added.

SFUSD is actively preparing to offer in-person learning options for some students and we want to hear from you about your current preference for this school year ending on June 2, 2021. 

SFUSD will only reopen schools once we can implement all health and safety measures agreed upon with our employee representatives and in accordance with public health guidance. In order to maintain physical distance and small stable groups of students, SFUSD cannot invite all students to return to in-person learning at the same time.

SFUSD will use this information to plan the instructional schedule based on each school site’s capacity and family interest. Selecting in-person learning as your preference doesn't guarantee that you will be assigned an in-person placement this spring semester 2021. Your child will be put on a waitlist and contacted if a space becomes available.

Due to space constraints as a result of physical distancing guidelines, there is limited capacity at our schools. Selecting in-person learning as your preference does not guarantee that a space will be available this school year. 

• If you respond Yes, you will be put on a waiting list and notified if a space becomes available for your child. SFUSD will share a placement letter with the return date, school schedule, forms to return and additional health and safety information at least 10 days  prior to your intended start date. 
• If you respond No, you will continue with distance learning and SFUSD will not hold a placement for your child for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year ending June 2, 2021

This survey pertains only to your preference for the remainder of this school year, through June 2021, pending availability.

You are being asked to respond to this survey for each child in the Phase 2B group and Grades 3-5. You will receive a unique survey for each child enrolled in SFUSD who is in this group. 

Your child will remain enrolled in their current school. However, depending on physical capacity of school buildings and a number of other factors, we may invite your child to attend class at a school that is in close proximity to your current school in order to serve more students.

Families will be notified and given more detailed information at least 10 days prior to their child’s in-person learning placement.

You have the option of continuing distance learning or choosing to return to in-person learning. 

We understand that circumstances change. Please know that you may decide at any time to withdraw your choice to return to in-person learning and continue distance learning. You may decide at a later date that you would like to return to in-person learning and SFUSD will offer an in-person placement when one becomes available again.

We invite you to learn more about the safety protocols SFUSD has established and what will be expected of students and staff when their school reopens. These include the following:

• Promoting behaviors that reduce spread (e.g., staying home when sick, daily health screenings, getting tested when recommended, physical distancing, washing hands and wearing face coverings) 
• Maintaining healthy environments (e.g., ensuring proper ventilation, regular testing, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces)  
• Maintaining healthy operations (e.g., staggering schedules, keeping students in small groups)

Preparing for when someone gets sick (e.g., contact tracing, notifications)

SFUSD is planning a gradual reopening and has identified focal populations for the first phases of reopening. We cannot safely invite all students to return to in-person learning at the same time. This is because we need to adhere to social distancing and other safety guidelines and ensure schools and classrooms are equipped with the necessary safety materials. These efforts take time and resources to roll out and safety is not something we want to compromise. All families received a detailed survey during the fall planning process and families of students not included in Phase 2A will be surveyed again at the beginning of the new year.