Back to School 2024-25

Dear SFUSD Students and Families,

I am excited to welcome your students to school on August 19, 2024.  In the past few weeks, principals, teachers, and support staff have been busy preparing for students to return to schools from summer break. Personally, I am eager to visit classrooms and meet your students. I always love the excitement and energy of the first day of school. 

As we say good-bye to summer and head into the new school year, please read below for some important information to help your family prepare for the first day of school.

Getting Ready for School

No matter what age, changes can bring up a lot of feelings and coming back to school, or beginning for the first time, is a big change for any child. It is important that educators, families and students stay patient and work together to support each other. We have included some tips for preparing with your child for their transition back to school.  

Safety and Health

The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority at SFUSD. We are excited to cultivate strong relationships at our schools so that our students can learn in safe and nurturing environments.

Additionally, our community in San Francisco has done a great job with getting vaccinated. Required immunizations are an important part of protecting your child and our community from serious disease. Learn more about how to keep your child and our school communities healthy.

Resource Alignment Initiative

SFUSD is engaged in a process to align our limited resources to our goals for student outcomes. This includes planning for school mergers, co-locations, and closures in the 2025-26 school year. Visit our Resource Alignment Initiative website for more information about the timeline and process for creating a new portfolio of schools. 

Forms

Though some things will be new and different, some things remain the same: with each new school year comes important forms we need to collect from you. Find out where to get a list of required forms, how to access them, and turn them in.

Family Communication and Partnership

Everyone in our SFUSD community is ready to partner with you in service of our students. Learn about various ways you can be a part of supporting your child’s education. Find opportunities to get involved at your child’s school site and at the district level.

I look forward to partnering with our school communities to foster joyful classrooms and schools where our students can learn and grow. 

Warmly,
Dr. Matt Wayne, Superintendent

The first day of school is August 19, 2024.

Complete this checklist before the first day of school:

• Make sure your child has met all the health requirements and is up to date on all immunizations. Visit sfusd.edu/HealthRequirements for more information.
• Complete your Emergency Contact Card so we can get in touch with you in the event of an emergency. Visit sfusd.edu/EmergencyCard for more information.
• Submit the 2024-25 SFUSD Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF) at SchoolCafe.com to qualify for school benefits, help increase funding for classroom supplies, school staff salaries, and more to support your student’s learning. Visit sfusd.edu/MFIF for more information.
• Complete the acknowledgement form on ParentVUE to confirm that you have received the information on page 3 of this mailer about how to access the SFUSD Student and Family Handbook. Visit sfusd.edu/acknowledgements for more information and tutorials.
• Update your contact information on ParentVUE to receive important phone, email and text notifications from your school and SFUSD. Visit sfusd.edu/ContactInfo for more information and tutorials on updating your contact information in ParentVUE.

The Handbook is an important resource for you and your SFUSD student(s). It contains information about your legal rights, SFUSD resources, and academic and behavioral expectations of SFUSD students. View or download the Handbook online at any time at sfusd.edu/handbook. 

To request a paper copy of the Handbook, fill out the Google Form at sfusd.edu/printHB, or call the Student Family School Resource Link at 415-340-1716, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. The print version of the Handbook is not updated in its entirety every year; a summary addendum will be available annually to reflect changes/amendments.

Please note it may take 6-8 weeks for us to mail the paper copy to you. 

ParentVUE is an SFUSD-approved online portal that offers secure, private access to your student’s school information, including:

• NEW! Attendance: Report your child’s absence from school. 
• Grades and report cards: View assignments, progress, term grades (middle and high  school), and report cards. 
• Online application and form: Apply to SFUSD schools, and submit required forms and documents such as immunization records and your emergency card.
• District and school communications: Learn how to update your contact information at sfusd.edu/contactinfo to make sure you receive important school and district notifications.
• Student login information: View your student’s login information to SFUSD digital learning platforms.

Activate your account by going to sfusd.edu/activate or learn more at sfusd.edu/ParentVUE.

Required Immunizations

Make sure your student is up to date on all required immunizations by school entry on August 19. State law (bit.ly/CAVaccineLaw) requires that children in California receive certain immunizations to attend school. Schools are required to enforce these requirements, maintain immunization records, and submit reports. There may be a wait for immunization appointments with your healthcare provider, so get started as soon as possible. For more information, go to sfusd.edu/immunizations.

UPDATE: Physical Examination for Any TK, Kindergartener, or New First-Grader No Longer Required for School Entry

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends annual well child exams until a child turns 19. Physical exams are crucial for early detection and management of potential health issues, routine monitoring of growth and development, and ensuring your child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. For the 2024-25 school year, the TK/kindergarten/first grade physical exam requirement is no longer required for school entry, however it is still strongly recommended. If available, please submit documentation of your child's physical exam on the school health form to sflink@sfusd.edu.

Oral Health (Dental Check Up)

California law (Education Code Section 49452.8) states your child must have a dental check-up by May 31 of their first year in public school. A California licensed dental professional operating within his scope of practice must perform the check-up and fill out Section 2 of this form. If your child had a dental check-up in the 12 months before they started school, ask your dentist to fill out Section 2. If you are unable to get a dental check-up for your child, fill out Section 3. 

Your student’s safety is of the utmost importance to SFUSD. 

Each year, school sites are responsible for completing a Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) to address campus risks, prepare for emergencies, and create a safe, secure learning environment for students and school personnel. 

Part of this plan requires school sites to train students and staff on what to do in case of various emergency situations.  SFUSD partners with the “I Love U Guys” foundation to implement the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) which is a flexible, action-based and easy to learn system for use in response to any number of incidents that might occur on school campuses.  Information about SRP for families can be found here in English, Spanish and Chinese, as well as at Back to School Night and parent education nights on school campuses.

Additionally, the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) is available for use for SFUSD 6th-12th grade students in middle, K-8, and high schools. Schools provide training and students are able to report any type of serious concerns about students who may be struggling or potentially violent via the anonymous tip line.

In the unlikely event of an emergency at your student’s school, learn how we notify families. To ensure we can reach you, make sure your contact information is up to date in ParentVUE and your emergency card is accurate.

SFUSD provides safe and reliable transportation to and from school for eligible students and activities, including the following:

• Curb-to-curb transportation for students with IEPs
• General Education busing prioritized for focal students, with limited capacity
• Site support for planning and scheduling of Field Trips
• Transportation bus service for paid, athletic, and art program trips

Visit sfusd.edu/transportation for more information. For transportation support questions, please email the SFUSD Transportation team at transportation@sfusd.edu.

Muni

The SFMTA will continue running its “school trippers” in the fall. These buses meet  students at the end of the school day near some of the city's largest middle and high schools.  

Muni will be continuing its Free Muni for Youth program. All youth under the age of 19 will be able to ride Muni without proof of payment. For more information on Free Muni, visit sfmta.com/FreeMUNI4Youth.

It takes a village to nourish our students. Thanks to California Meals for All, school meals will continue to be offered at no cost to all students in the 2024-25 school year. Supper is available for youth 18 and younger at participating afterschool programs. It is important for all parents to submit the SFUSD Multipurpose Family Income Form every school year to support the meal program and school funding at your students' school. This is especially important for students enrolled in an Early Education School. 

See your school’s website to find the menu and the bell schedule for meal service times. Every day we offer a choice of entrees, fresh fruit, vegetable side, and optional milk. Remember to pick a fruit or vegetable with every meal! 

A healthy eater is a strong leader! Have your student dine with us and enjoy a nutritious well balanced meal. Your student’s participation keeps federal funds here in San Francisco and supports improvements in the school meal program.

Learn more about our nutritious school meals at sfusd.edu/SchoolFood

We have ambitious goals for the public school students of San Francisco. The Board of Education Parent Involvement Policy 6020 (sfusd.edu/BP6020) recognizes that families are their children's first and most influential teachers and that sustained involvement in the education of their children contributes greatly to student achievement and a positive school environment. 

SFUSD has both districtwide and school site advisory and community groups who bring diverse ideas to produce a more comprehensive shared plan for school improvement. The most effective councils and committees use data and direct experience with their schools to guide decision-making. They make a concerted effort to achieve authentic participation of staff and families, work closely with school principals and educators, and develop solutions that are monitored for effectiveness. 

Learn about SFUSD advisories and councils: sfusd.edu/AdvisoryCouncils

Learn about your rights as a parent: sfusd.edu/ParentRights

For more, go to sfusd.edu/directory. 

Going back to school or starting school for the first time can be an anxious and exciting time for children. Review these tips for supporting your children as they start the new school year.

• Prepare: Rehearse rituals such as picking out an outfit before school. Adjust your sleep schedules as needed before the first day of school.
• Predictability: Establish predictable and simple schedules for the school week. Make a list of things to bring to school.
• Patience: Have patience during the transition for yourself and your children, as there might be some behavior changes due to stress or anxiety.

And don’t forget to celebrate! 

There are many ways to stay in touch with SFUSD:

• Subscribe to the weekly Family Announcement Bulletin (FAB) at sfusd.edu/FAB.
• Subscribe to the monthly family newsletter at sfusd.edu/FamilyNewsletter.
• Visit our website at sfusd.edu. Find your child’s school website by visiting sfusd.edu/SchoolDirectory.
• Stay connected through ParentVUE.

We’re on Facebook, Instagram, and X at @SFUnified. View our videos on YouTube at @SanFranciscoUnified. Follow us on Facebook in Spanish at @SFUSDenEspanol.