Supervisors approve $26 million in student-success funds amid questions about SFUSD closures and oversight

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Sept. 24 approved a $26 million allocation from the city's Student Success Fund to support school innovation projects, readiness grants and districtwide supports, amid sustained questioning from supervisors about transparency at the San Francisco Unified School District and how the money will follow students if schools are closed or consolidated.

The board voted "same house, same call" to adopt the resolution after extended debate during which several supervisors — including Shamal Walton, Rafael Mandelman, and Matt Ronan — pressed Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families Director Maria Sue and her staff to explain how schools were selected, what safeguards were in place to protect vulnerable students, and how funds would be redirected if a school receiving grants were later closed.

City officials said the $26 million is part of a $35 million allocation for fiscal year 2024-25. Maria Sue told the supervisors that $26 million goes directly to the school district to fund three main "buckets": school innovation projects, grants to support schools becoming implementation sites, and districtwide efforts. She said a small portion remains at DCYF for technical assistance, capacity…