Teachers, principals and community groups urge board not to pause ninth‑grade ethnic studies

Dozens of teachers, principals and community members used the public‑comment period at the June 24 San Francisco Board of Education meeting to press the board to reject any plan to disenroll ninth‑grade students from ethnic studies.

Speakers cited district and national research and local school experience in describing ethnic studies as an evidence‑based intervention that improves attendance, graduation and college enrollment. Joaquin Delgado, an ethnic studies teacher at Galileo High School, said the class helps ninth graders build metacognitive skills and a sense of community. “It is a space for students to realize their intellectual identity,” he said.

Principals and department chairs warned the board that a last‑minute pause would create major master‑schedule disruptions across high schools, reduce elective and AP course opportunities and require significant summer workload for teachers. Catherine Aronson, principal at Balboa High School, asked the board to require any review to be conducted by a neutral expert institution and to allow piloting of already‑adopted statewide curriculum while a review proceeds.

Community organizations framed the issue as part of a larger national conflict over inclusive curricula. Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, called the proposed pause “disastrous” and urged the board to protect the district’s role as a leader in ethnic studies. Several speakers cited Stanford research and district data indicating that ninth‑grade ethnic studies improves key college‑and‑career readiness indicators.

Speakers also pressed the district on process and access issues: a parent and advocate who is blind described accessibility problems with the district’s agenda and documents for screen‑readers, calling for website and document improvements so all community members can participate. Multiple speakers asked that the board communicate clearly about next steps and include teachers, students and families in any review.

President Kim thanked commenters and reminded the public that, under California law, the board does not respond to public‑comment questions during the comment period; staff may follow up with speakers afterward. The board did not take action on ethnic studies at the meeting; public comment was delivered during the non‑agenda public‑comment window and will be part of the record as the board considers related items in future meetings.