Board advances framework for zone‑based elementary assignment after hour‑long debate over equity and implementation

The board on Dec. 8 moved forward with a framework to replace San Francisco’s citywide choice elementary assignment system with a zone‑based model that the district says will increase proximity, predictability and diverse school enrollment. Staff stressed the change is a policy framework — not the final zone boundaries — and proposed an implementation timeline of roughly 18 months and estimated implementation costs of about $2.56 million (mostly one‑time investments in systems, outreach and a new student‑assignment engine).

Orla O’Keefe, chief of policy and operations, said the policy would require subsequent community‑based processes to draw zones, define diversity characteristics and set equity tie‑breakers. ‘‘This is the start of the work; the heavy lifting is the implementation: drawing zones and agreeing the diversity…