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San Francisco school board endorses Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights; board votes to introduce and adopt
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Education voted unanimously to introduce and later adopt a local Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, endorsing a set of outdoor experiences the district says will increase equitable access to nature-based learning for students.
The San Francisco Board of Education on May 27 formally introduced and voted to endorse the San Francisco Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, a locally adapted set of outdoor experiences the board said aims to expand equitable access to parks, gardens and outdoor learning for city students.
The board suspended normal rules to take up the resolution and Commissioner Norton read the final whereas and results clauses, describing the measure as ensuring that “every child in San Francisco” can explore nature, plant and harvest food, visit a park and ride a bike. After public speakers and board discussion, the board approved the measure by roll call (7 ayes).
Supporters told the board the idea grew from a multi‑year, community‑based process. Damien Rafa, who helped organize the local effort, traced the measure’s origins to a 2007 statewide initiative and a community forum in 2010 that brought together educators, public‑park staff and pediatricians to define childhood experiences appropriate to an urban setting. "What you see is the result of a 3‑year community‑based effort to find consensus on candidate experiences and then roll them out on a broad voting campaign," Rafa said.
Charlotte Hill, co‑director of Kids in Parks and a member of the San Francisco Children Nature Forum, told the board the initiative aligns with district goals for "joyful learning and access and equity." "A student turning over a log on a wet afternoon and discovering a California slender salamander for the first time" is the kind of experience the resolution seeks to guarantee, she said.
Board members praised the outreach and bilingual translations planned for posters and materials, and noted the city Recreation and Park Commission had already adopted the local measure. The board recorded a unanimous vote to introduce and proceed with the resolution that same evening; the recorded roll call for formal introduction and adoption showed seven ayes.
The resolution calls for SFUSD endorsement and outreach to make the experiences described on the bill of rights available to students across the city. The board’s action is a policy endorsement; any specific program funding or operational changes will require follow‑up through staff implementation and budgeting.
