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SFUSD presentation shows small gains in college-and-career readiness; district pilots AI math tutor
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Summary
District staff reported a rise in college-and-career readiness to 60% and described a pilot of EDIA, an AI-based math tutor for ninth and tenth graders; staff said pilot results appear promising but participation was limited because the rollout was optional.
District staff presented progress on Goal 3 (college and career readiness), reporting a modest increase from 58% to 60% in the 2025 graduating cohort and previewing early-warning indicator (EWI) monitoring, STAAR math proficiency trends and a supplemental AI math tool pilot.
Patrick West, executive director of college and career readiness, outlined the Goal 3 measures used by the California Department of Education, explaining that the district's composite metric draws on multiple indicators across the high school years. Assistant Superintendent Divina Goldwasser described early-warning indicators (GPA and attendance thresholds) and said the district is targeting ninth-and tenth-grade interventions, counseling supports and credit-recovery programs to improve long-term outcomes.
Staff also reviewed preliminary results from a pilot of EDIA, an AI-based math tutor funded this year with Gates Foundation support and an ongoing WestEd evaluation. Presenters said students who used EDIA showed larger gains on STAR Math from fall to winter than similar students who did not use it; early signals suggested larger gains for African American students who used the tool. Staff emphasized the pilot was optional for teachers and students, which contributed to lower participation rates, and that WestEd will conduct a more rigorous end-of-year analysis.
Board questions and staff responses: Commissioners asked why participation in EDIA was limited and whether gains would persist. Staff said the pilot was introduced as a voluntary supplemental resource during professional development buyback days and that participation varied by teacher buy-in. Staff outlined steps to increase adoption if continued gains are confirmed: targeted professional development, on-site coaching by EDIA, teacher-to-teacher sharing of promising practices, and consideration of protected class time for usage.
Students and staff examples: Presenters highlighted two students (from John O'Connell High School) who improved from EWI risk markers to better attendance and higher GPA after intensive site supports. Staff described off-track conferences, more frequent monitoring and family engagement events as key practices.
What this means: The district framed the EDIA pilot and the EWI work as part of a broader multi-year strategy to strengthen high-school instruction, curriculum adoption (math first, with history/social studies planned) and targeted supports. Staff said they will continue to monitor results and consider scaling supplemental tools if evidence shows durable benefits.