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SFUSD board adopts Common Core spending plan; debate centers on technology and Smarter Balanced readiness
Summary
The San Francisco Unified School District board approved a two‑year Common Core implementation spending plan and discussed whether existing technology allocations and a three‑year lease strategy will be enough for Smarter Balanced testing and longer‑term instructional needs.
The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved the district’s Common Core State Standards implementation fund spending plan for fiscal years 2013–14 and 2014–15, moving the plan from a second reading to adoption while commissioners pressed staff on technology readiness for Smarter Balanced assessments.
At the meeting district staff described the spending plan as a mix of one‑time and short‑term investments intended to prepare schools for new assessments and to support professional development. "We're using a ratio of 1 to 10 as suggested by the state, 1 device for every 10 students," a district technology manager said, and staff explained the procurement approach will rely on three‑year leases and device refresh cycles rather than outright purchases. The presentation said the plan funds carts of approximately 40–45 devices for classroom rollout, includes wireless upgrades for elementary schools and extra support staff, and anticipates distributing about 5,000 devices to school sites during the funded period.
Board members expressed concern that the dollars in the plan may not be sufficient. "Is this going to be enough money?" a budget committee member asked, saying the plan "isn't enough money" for full implementation. Commissioners emphasized that while the spending plan may meet the narrow need of assessment administration, it falls short of the district’s broader instructional technology goals. Superintendent Juan Richard Carranza agreed, saying the district wants devices used for instruction before they are dedicated to testing and that the vision for technology goes beyond assessment needs.
Staff described the lease approach as a way to stagger costs and keep devices current: "These are going to be leased over a 3‑year period," a staff member said, and at the end of the lease the district could either return devices or buy them at a lower market rate. The district also said plans call for maintaining a baseline annual budget item after the three‑year window so device refreshes can become part of regular operating costs.
The board also discussed training and professional development funded through the plan. Commissioners sought clarity on how paraprofessionals will be included; staff responded that paraprofessionals will receive training but that the specific format and scheduling will be worked out with labor partners. The budget committee noted that the professional development funding in the plan is intended to pay for the portion of already scheduled professional development days used for Common Core implementation rather than to add new days.
The adoption was approved by roll call. The board directed staff to continue refining deployment plans and to return with details to support implementation and budget planning.
The board is scheduled to continue budget and LCFF/LCAP discussions at an upcoming Committee of the Whole and a school planning retreat on March 1.
