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Grand Jury Says San Francisco’s Kindergarten Assignment System Is Unpredictable; District Promises Review
Summary
A civil grand jury found the city's kindergarten assignment system unpredictable and inequitable, recommending predictable neighborhood options and better participation; the school district and mayor’s office told supervisors they are redesigning student assignment and will run simulations before making policy changes.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee also took public testimony on a civil grand jury report criticizing San Francisco Unified School District’s student‑assignment ("school choice") process, which the jury said produces unpredictable outcomes and increased racial and ethnic isolation at many elementary schools.
A grand jury representative summarized three central conclusions: admission results should be predictable; the process should be equitable (not all families can tour or meet scheduling deadlines); and parents should be permitted to send their children to the neighborhood school, with other districts using boundary tools or lotteries to support equitable assignment.
Orla O'Keefe, special assistant to the superintendent, said the district has begun redesigning student assignment to address uneven school quality and participation gaps. O'Keefe cited round‑one participation rates the district reported last year — about 50% for African American children, 88% for Chinese children, 84% for white children and 68% for Latino children — and said the district will run simulations and consider implementation timelines after further committee and community discussion.
The Mayor's office and district officials said improving school quality and expanding supports (after‑school programs, teacher retention incentives, joint‑use facilities) are central to the effort. The grand jury and several supervisors emphasized that assignment reform must not simply relocate students without improving neighborhood schools.
On the record, Supervisor Eric Marr moved that the committee "disagree" with finding 9 of the grand jury report and adopt the district's responses to recommendations 9 and 10; the committee agreed to forward its recommended language to staff for amendment and to send the matter to the full Board of Supervisors for action. The committee's official responses and any explanatory language will be prepared by staff and returned for the board's consideration.
What happens next: The school district will continue planning and public outreach, the committee forwarded its tentative responses and staff will prepare formal language for the full board to review and file an official response.
