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Board unanimously sends Student Success Fund charter amendment to November ballot
Summary
The Board approved by unanimous vote a charter amendment to create a Student Success Fund that would provide stable, annual funds for programs in the San Francisco Unified School District; the measure will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 11–0 on July 26 to place a charter amendment on the November ballot that would create a Student Success Fund to support academic achievement and social‑emotional wellness for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) students.
What the amendment would do: The charter change would establish a Student Success Fund administered by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) to provide grants to SFUSD schools and to require an annual appropriation to the fund for up to 15 years. The funding formula described in the proposal uses a calculation tied to the city’s excess Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) allocations. Supervisors and advocates described the measure as a means to provide stable funding for community‑school style interventions such as tutoring, mental‑health supports, after‑school programs and other site‑based services.
Board debate and support: The measure drew broad bipartisan board support. Sponsor Supervisor Ronan described the amendment as a “turning point” in the city’s partnership with SFUSD and credited a wide coalition of labor, parents, city departments and community groups. Supervisor Safaie, Supervisor Melgar and others praised the measure’s focus on equity and on sustaining programs through future downturns. Supervisor Preston and others said they had been skeptical of charter set‑asides in general but supported this proposal after policy adjustments addressing fiscal flexibility and protections for downturns.
Vote and next steps: The resolution to submit the charter amendment to the ballot passed unanimously by roll call (11–0). The measure will appear on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot. Supervisors asked staff to continue outreach and to work on implementation details and reporting requirements should voters approve the amendment.
Proper names and participants: Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF), San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), SEIU and other labor partners, Parent advocacy groups named during the process.
Speaker (selected): • Supervisor Hillary Ronan (sponsor): framed the amendment as stable, targeted funding for academic and social‑emotional supports and thanked community partners and the city attorney’s office for drafting.
Clarifying details: - Maximum annual allocations described in the charter are tied to excess ERAF calculations (exact dollar amounts will depend on future ERAF receipts and the ballot text). - The charter requires annual appropriations for up to 15 years, subject to the calculation specified in the ballot measure.
Why it matters: The amendment aims to create a multi‑year, stable revenue stream targeted at schools with the greatest need, proponents said, addressing learning loss and inequities exacerbated by the pandemic.
