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San Francisco school board restores JROTC programs after months of debate
Summary
After hours of testimony from students, parents and community groups, the San Francisco Board of Education voted to restore Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs at seven high schools while leaving questions about PE/graduation credit to a later, publicly noticed action.
The San Francisco Board of Education voted May 12 to restore access to Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs at seven district high schools, overturning a prior phase‑out and directing the superintendent to reinstate the courses for 2009–10.
The vote followed more than three hours of public comment and a lengthy staff review. Supporters — including dozens of current and former cadets, instructors and parents — told the board that JROTC provides leadership, community service and increased college attendance for many students. Opponents, including veterans and community activists, argued JROTC serves as a military recruitment tool and questioned whether the classes meet state physical education standards.
Why it matters: The board’s action restores an option that affects hundreds of students and several district programs. The decision separates two questions that dominated the meeting: whether JROTC should be available as a program option, and whether the district should award JROTC courses physical‑education (A–G) or graduation credit. The board approved reinstatement now and agreed to handle the PE‑credit question later with public notice so the district can follow proper procedural rules.
Key details: Curriculum staff told the board the JROTC curricula submitted to date do not fully align with the California Department of Education physical‑education content standards and that current JROTC instructors do not hold state PE credentials (physical‑education credentials are handled by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing). "Physical education is not one of the A–G categories," the curriculum presenter said, summarizing guidance staff had received. Staff and the board discussed whether curriculum changes or credentialing work could make JROTC eligible in future.
Voices from the meeting: Student speakers repeatedly urged the board to keep the program. "This program is so valuable," student Jared Hornbostel told commissioners, and Roxanne Lee, a cadet at Lowell High, said the decision "needs to be based on facts, not illusions." Superintendent Garcia framed the budget context for the board and public, saying the district faces state revenue shortfalls and that the board must consider fiscal implications alongside programmatic ones.
How the board handled PE credit: Board members and legal counsel agreed that awarding PE or A–G credit would require separate public notice and could be considered at a later meeting. Counsel advised that the board could restore the program’s availability now while delegating or scheduling any discretion over crediting or alignment for subsequent action.
Next steps: The board’s resolution directs the superintendent to reinstate JROTC as an option at the seven schools noted in the motion for the 2009–10 school year "and beyond," subject to clarifying amendments passed during debate (including an enrollment‑threshold amendment giving schools with fewer than 50 cadets discretion to opt out). The board and staff committed to expedite follow‑up work to clarify enrollment, curriculum alignment and credentialing so the district can decide whether to rescind or reconfirm staffing and credit decisions before the school year begins.
Ending: The board’s vote restores JROTC access but leaves open the technical question of whether the district will grant PE or A–G credit for JROTC courses. Staff and the board said they would continue work and provide an agenda and public notice specific to any crediting decisions.
