SFUSD previews California Dashboard results; presents annual English-learner report under consent decree

San Francisco Unified School District staff presented two accountability reports at the November 13 meeting: a preview of the California Dashboard local indicators and the district’s annual report on English learners filed under the LAO modified consent decree.

Chief of Research, Planning and Assessments (presenting for John Burke) said SFUSD met all local indicators in the Dashboard, which the California Department of Education will release publicly on Dec. 3. In the LAO consent-decree presentation, Special Assistant Christina Wong reported district English-learner data for 2017–18: more than 13,000 English learners across TK–12 speaking 52 languages, including major language groups Arabic, Cantonese, Filipino, Spanish and Vietnamese; about 2,500 ELs had IEPs. Wong said 43 percent of students reached level 3 or above on the new English Language Proficiency assessment in its first year of administration and described purchases of K–5 'Wonders' ELD materials, a continuum of ELD practices, and draft Spanish-pathway guidelines to improve transfer between Spanish and English instruction.

Board members asked questions about disparities—for example, the low participation of students with IEPs in many dual-language pathways and differences in reclassification rates across language groups (Cantonese reclassification appeared higher than Spanish). Staff said they will follow up with special education and provide additional disaggregated counts (including language by IEP status) to clarify causes and next steps. Wong emphasized teacher training, instructional continuity and the new materials as part of the district’s strategy to improve EL outcomes. The meeting record shows active discussion but no formal vote on these reports.