The San Francisco school board voted 5-2 Tuesday to replace the school assignment lottery with neighborhood schools, directing staff to develop a plan that would take effect in 2028-29.
The vote, which marks a monumental shift in how the San Francisco Unified School District determines which schools students attend, follows years of debate over how to replace a system that commissioners say frightens families with its unpredictability and has proven ineffective at reducing racial disparities.
Superintendent Maria Su opened the discussion by recommending the winning proposal, known as Option C, saying abandoning school choice in favor of neighborhood schools would be “a very historic moment.” Council President Phil Kim said the council “should be proud of the fact that we are moving toward a neighborhood model today.”
Under Option C, students will be assigned to a school based on their home address, even if they apply late. The days of ranking a list of schools will be over. Select schools will be open for applications citywide as they offer programs such as language immersion, K-8 education, and special education.
“Families shouldn’t have to roll the dice and take their chances in our system,” Su said. “The school down the street should be a good option and some option. »
The council is expected to adopt a final policy on April 13.
An alternative considered by the board would have created a guaranteed placement in the district for families who apply on time, with the option to apply to any SFUSD school. Su said this option would maintain the status quo, with too many families dropping out of their neighborhood school.
Instead, the new system “puts the responsibility directly on the district to make sure every school in the neighborhood is worth choosing,” Su said.
Not everyone thought the plan would benefit the district’s most marginalized students.
Assistant Superintendent John Davis said improving the district’s struggling schools would take much longer than the two years before the new system was implemented. Some have high teacher turnover and “too many temporary teachers,” he said. Building a strong staff in these schools “will take at least five to ten years,” he said.
Commissioner Alida Fisher, who along with Commissioner Supryia Ray voted no, was concerned about that estimate. Fisher questioned why the district would change its system before closing resource gaps. “Frankly, we are destroying families in parts of the city by doing this, and we know it,” she said.
Commissioner Matt Alexander, who voted yes, said the new plan provides predictability and reflects the district’s “responsibility to think about what’s best for all children.” The new system, he suggested, would eliminate the lottery system and incentivize the district to improve conditions.
“I know that no matter what we land on, someone is going to be upset,” Su said before the vote. “But I promise that the process will be real and transparent, and I hope that through this we will regain the trust of our families.”
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