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SFUSD advances $8.5 million Magnet Schools grant application to reduce racial isolation
Summary
At its April 27 meeting the San Francisco Unified School District advanced a first-reading authorization to apply for approximately $8.5 million in federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program funds to create magnet/IB programs at four schools, with the board suspending rules to hear the item tonight because students were present.
The San Francisco Unified School District moved forward April 27 to seek federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) funds, authorizing a first-reading motion and agreeing to submit a competitive application for about $8.5 million.
Superintendent Carlos Garcia introduced the proposal and asked the board to consider suspending rules and acting on the application at first reading because students and families were present. Guadalupe Guerrero, who presented the grant plan, told the board the MSAP is a federal program aimed at reducing racial isolation and raising student achievement and that the U.S. Department of Education had recently allocated $125 million for another round of MSAP funding.
Guerrero said the district would seek roughly $8.5 million to develop magnet programs at four sites and to support initial implementation over three years. The proposed sites named in the application are Leonard R. Flynn Elementary, John Muir Elementary, Everett Middle School and the International Studies Academy. Guerrero said the application and supporting documents would include the district’s voluntary integration plan and that MSAP funds would cover a district-level coordinator, site coordinators, staff development, annual program fees and school equipment needs.
Several parents, volunteers and school leaders from John Muir and Flynn spoke in support of the application, telling the board their communities had coordinated letters of support and local readiness activities. Student speakers described benefits they attributed to themed learning and language instruction. Several board members pressed staff for more detail on long-term sustainability after MSAP seed funding ends.
Commissioner Winns said IB programs are costly to sustain beyond grant periods and asked the district to develop a clear plan for ongoing funding. Commissioner Norton asked for a more detailed breakdown of how the $8.5 million would be spent; staff responded that MSAP funds are intended to cover coordinators, professional development and annual IB fees and that some city partners are being explored to help sustain programs.
The board suspended the rules to hear the item and, following roll call, recorded a vote advancing the superintendent’s proposal at first reading. The motion passed on the record and the board asked staff to return with implementation and sustainability details if SFUSD is awarded MSAP funds.
Next steps: staff will finalize and submit the competitive application to the U.S. Department of Education by the grant deadline and return to the board with more detailed spending and sustainability plans.
