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San Francisco school board unanimously backs plan to expand ethnic studies to all high schools
Summary
After hours of student and teacher testimony and a staff presentation of preliminary research, the San Francisco Board of Education voted unanimously to expand ethnic studies to every SFUSD high school and directed staff to secure funding and align the curriculum with state standards.
The San Francisco Board of Education on Dec. 9 voted unanimously to adopt a resolution directing the district to expand ethnic studies course offerings to all SFUSD high schools and to pursue institutional steps — including funding, professional development and curriculum alignment — to support that expansion.
The measure, introduced by the board president and read into the record by ethnic studies teachers, passed after dozens of students, teachers and community supporters described the course’s impact on engagement and identity. Students gave first‑hand accounts of classroom work and community projects; one senior, Alejandra Ciboncho Arroyo of Mission High School, told the board: "Ethnic studies is truth to me." Teachers and faculty from San Francisco State University joined the chorus of support.
Why it matters: Board members said the item responds to student demand and to equity goals for a district where the resolution notes roughly 90 percent of students are students of color. The adopted resolution directs the superintendent to secure funding for expansion, includes a commitment to provide at least one full‑time position to oversee rollout and to fund teacher professional development, and asks the district to explore making ethnic studies a graduation requirement within five years.
Staff findings and funding: Deputy Superintendent (staff presentation) described preliminary, unpublished findings from a limited Stanford partnership study, saying the district has observed encouraging early results including "reduced rates of unexcused absences" among students in ethnic studies and increases in final grades for academically at‑risk students, with particular gains for boys in math and science. Budget documents presented at the meeting estimated an approximate $500,000 budget impact in year one to hire additional staff and align curriculum, and a total projected cost of about $1.4 million across 2015–16 through 2017–18. Staff recommended a careful, incremental implementation with ongoing evaluation.
Board debate and amendment: Commissioners praised the student testimony and recommended close monitoring of implementation at small and large schools alike. By general consensus the board adopted an amendment to specify the district will seek to meet California Department of Education standards for social content when aligning ethnic studies curriculum and materials.
Outcome and next steps: The resolution passed by roll call (board recorded the vote as unanimous). The board directed the superintendent and staff to secure funding, to bring the curriculum in‑house aligned to common core and state standards, and to report back on implementation and monitoring plans. The district also referenced existing partnerships with San Francisco State University for teacher preparation and for A–G credit alignment.
The board did not adopt a districtwide mandate with immediate course requirements at the meeting; instead, members emphasized a staged rollout, monitoring, and the need for resources and training to maintain fidelity of instruction.
