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Horace Mann remains under state monitoring as district details supports and staffing challenges
Summary
District staff reported that Horace Mann Middle School remains under SAIT monitoring because it has not met state targets; presenters cited high teacher and administrative turnover, intensive coaching and professional development efforts, and eligibility for Quality Education Investment Act funds.
The San Francisco Unified School District presented the School Assistance and Intervention Team (SAIT) monitoring report for Horace Mann Middle School, which remains under state sanctions after failing to meet identified achievement targets. Didi Desmond summarized the school’s challenges — including substantial teacher turnover (14 of 32 teachers new this year), the school’s third principal in three years and that a high share of incoming sixth graders scored below proficiency — and described the district’s strategy to provide coaching, benchmark assessments and site‑based professional development tailored to Horace Mann’s student population.
Desmond told the board the SAIT process aims to assess needs and provide intensive support to implement school reform initiatives. She also noted Horace Mann is one of 23 district schools eligible to apply for Quality Education Investment Act funds that were created after a legal settlement, and said one school per county will receive funding under the state allocation rules; the selection is competitive. Board members asked for data on which professional development elements show common barriers across SAIT schools and raised questions about curriculum alignment, the use of High Point (an ELD curriculum) versus Prentice‑Hall core materials, and the extent to which students have access to electives. Staff said Horace Mann restored a seven‑period day this year and that many students now receive Prentice Hall core instruction plus a linked strategic support period.
Commissioners pressed for information about recordkeeping and public‑records responses after a parent requested copies of SAIT materials; staff committed to researching a prior public‑records request and responding. Several members emphasized the need to stabilize staff and to pursue additional funding and community partnerships to address the school’s chronic needs.
Next steps: staff will provide follow‑up details on curriculum placement, elective access percentages, the SAIT implementation matrix, and the public‑records request handling.
