Suggested Message
Dear Superintendent Maria Su and Board of Education,
San Francisco students deserve a thoughtful, rigorous, and inclusive education that teaches the true histories and contributions of marginalized communities. SFUSD’s current Ethnic Studies approach is failing that promise. The year-long Ethnic Studies graduation requirement:
- Replaces history with ideology, promoting activism over evidence-based learning
- Displaces vital electives like world languages, advanced science, and college prep classes
- Costs over $2 million per year—funds urgently needed for reading intervention, mental health support, and teacher development.
- Was enacted by a recalled board during school closures without full community input OR AN APPROVED CURRICULUM
- This is not the balanced, factual, and flexible curriculum envisioned by California’s AB 101, which only called for a one-semester course and is not currently required by the state. I urge SFUSD to:
- Rescind the graduation requirement until AB 101 is funded by the State of California.
- Replace the existing Ethnic Studies curriculum (and related K-12 core and elective curriculum) with a high quality, publicly vetted and Board of Education approved curriculum that meets the state legislative mandate to highlight ethnic groups and historical facts, not ideology and political opinions.
- Restore choice and flexibility by shifting to a one-semester elective course, preserving the ability of students to take academically rigorous courses required for college enrollment.
- Reallocate funding to where it’s needed most—toward programs that measurably improve student proficiency and outcomes.
San Francisco students deserve education—not indoctrination. Let’s get it right.