SFUSD board approves five-year renewals for two KIPP schools after public comment and debate

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education voted this evening to grant five‑year renewal petitions to KIPP Bayview Elementary and KIPP San Francisco College Prep, following staff presentations, petitioner responses and extended board questions. Staff had recommended both renewals under California Education Code criteria emphasizing recent trends and the most‑recent two years of data.

Chris Armentrout, the district’s director of policy and planning, told commissioners that staff found KIPP Bayview had met the four statutory renewal criteria and recommended a renewal effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, while noting ongoing challenges in math and chronic absenteeism (44.8 percent). Principal Jess Wood stressed KIPP Bayview’s academic gains, interventions and use of Eureka Math Squared and family supports, saying the school has a waiting list and increased enrollment this year.

Commissioners pressed KIPP and staff on several points: Commissioner Fisher questioned whether the petition should be treated as a renewal when the school was state‑authorized and probed historical declines in test scores; Commissioner Alexander and others noted the value of small‑school models and asked about how LCFF funding flows would change if students returned to SFUSD. Staff estimated the LCFF funding associated with KIPP students at roughly $1.9 million (with SFUSD receiving an approximately 1 percent administrative fee), but cautioned that the fiscal effect is speculative because not every KIPP student would enroll in SFUSD schools.

On a roll‑call vote the board approved the KIPP Bayview renewal: 6 ayes, 1 no (Commissioner Fisher).

For KIPP San Francisco College Prep (SFCP), staff reported improved English‑language arts performance (a 14‑point distance‑from‑standard gain) and strong college‑going indicators, but also flagged math performance that lags district and state averages, a three‑year pattern of deficit budgets, a roughly 50 percent enrollment decline over four years, and an 11.2 percent suspension rate. Petitioner Greg Chen, managing director for KIPP SF College Prep, described initiatives to reduce suspensions (restorative practices), increase math supports (instructional coaching and interventions) and rebuild enrollment (transportation reinstatement and regional recruitment).

Commissioners asked for more data on college persistence and six‑year college graduation tracking; Chen said KIPP tracks six‑year college outcomes and noted a new grant that provides alumni financial support ($15,000 per year for up to six years) to aid persistence. After board discussion, the KIPP SFCP renewal passed on a roll‑call vote, 7 ayes.

Public comment before and during both hearings focused heavily on other district issues, including a series of in‑person and remote statements opposing the proposed closure of Academy High School. Students and staff described Academy as a small, close community and urged the district to halt closure plans; other public commenters raised concerns about untrained substitute teachers and urged replacement of an expiring parcel tax to protect district programs.

What happens next: both renewals take effect as staff recommended for five years beginning July 1, 2026. The board’s discussion signaled ongoing attention to enrollment patterns, budget alignment, and the district’s role in offering small‑school options and competitive programs.

Votes at a glance: KIPP Bayview Elementary renewal — approved (6 ayes, 1 no); KIPP San Francisco College Prep renewal — approved (7 ayes).