Concerns Over Educational Standards in San Francisco Schools
Two prominent leaders within the San Francisco school system have expressed their disappointment with the education landscape. San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Hsu and Commissioner Supriya Ray shared their views in recent interviews, emphasizing the need for significant improvements.
They described the situation as “unacceptable,” citing outdated teaching materials and ongoing student absenteeism as major issues. They also noted that some educators are not engaging with the current curriculum.
Hsu, previously criticized for showing emotion during a teacher strike in February, remarked that districts previously viewed as inferior to SFUSD are now surpassing it.
“Ten or 15 years ago, we were seen as a respected district, a benchmark for others,” Ray noted, reflecting on the decline in status.
One particular concern is the use of textbooks that reference obsolete concepts, such as “self-driving cars” as a future possibility, despite these technologies already existing. “We’ve got textbooks from two decades ago that still say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to one day have self-driving cars?’ It’s really unacceptable,” Ray stated.
The district aims for 70% reading proficiency among third-graders and 65% math proficiency by eighth grade by 2027. However, Ray admitted they are “nowhere near” those goals.
The pandemic has further complicated matters, with extended school closures affecting student learning. Ray remarked, “I think we were the last district in the city to reopen,” emphasizing the message that school attendance wasn’t prioritized.
Ray also pointed out a shift in family dynamics around holidays, stating that families often pull their children from school before breaks. This change, she argued, negatively impacts the value placed on education.
“Our handling of the pandemic has fostered an unhealthy culture concerning family and student commitments,” she said, acknowledging the responsibility of adults in this context.
The district’s chronic absenteeism has recently risen from 23% to 24%, prompting concerns about funding. Leaders have remarked that absent students translate to lost financial resources, subsequently diverting funds from initiatives designed to address absenteeism.
“There are very few people focused on this issue,” Ray said, pointing out the need for more resources dedicated to it.
“When students don’t attend, we lose funding,” Sue explained. “And with reduced funds, we can’t hire the necessary staff to support students returning to school.”
Regarding her role, Hsu mentioned that she took charge of the district during a crisis and emphasized her ongoing efforts for financial oversight since her permanent appointment last November.
Despite the challenges faced by one of California’s largest school districts, both leaders insist that they must act swiftly. “We started a year and a half ago because time is of the essence,” Sue concluded.
