Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the English Learners topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts policy requiring appropriate certification for teachers of English learners
Summary
The board adopted a superintendent proposal requiring SFUSD teachers who instruct English learner students to hold appropriate certification; United Educators of San Francisco and district staff said the policy aligns the district with credentialing rules and will be supported by training cohorts.
The San Francisco Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a district policy requiring that teachers who instruct English learner students obtain the appropriate certification. Staff presented the proposal, which had previously received positive recommendations from curriculum, rules, personnel, and budget committees.
Dennis Kelly, president of United Educators of San Francisco, thanked the district and indicated that the union had been part of discussions; he raised a question about one final accelerated class option for teachers who might be displaced by the rule. District staff replied that they were organizing cohorts with external partners (including UC Berkeley) and exploring Proposition 8 funding to support remaining teachers in obtaining certification.
Superintendent Garcia described the policy as a critical piece of the master plan for English learners and emphasized staff and union collaboration. The roll-call vote was unanimous.
What happens next: staff will organize training cohorts, pursue identified funding pathways and prepare implementation steps to support teachers currently working toward certification.
Representative quote: “Tonight’s action, if this policy is approved, really is a wonderful thing for our students,” Dennis Kelly said in public testimony.
