Live Blog: Board of Education, May 23, 2023
Summary:
There was a celebration of the two Board of Education student delegates Cal and Isabella. This was their last school board meeting. Delegates stated that they were grateful for the opportunity to serve.
There was a very important presentation from the DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Committee). The DELAC is an advisory committee comprised of representatives from each school’s English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).
The three recommendations from the report are:
Strengthening Family Participation and Engagement: By law, every school site needs to have an English Learner Advisory Committee that has a certain number of members and a certain number of meetings per year with accessible meeting agendas and minutes. Schools should have ELCA minutes and agendas posted on their websites. A number of schools are out of compliance, and the DELAC recommends that district staff provide more training for school site administrators. Another recommendation is that the Department of Communications, with support from district and site staff, launch a campaign that emphasizes the importance of ELACs.
Improve Communication Access and Effectiveness. Only half of parents use ParentVue (app/website for private messaging and email) to get communications from schools. [This is the primary way communications go out from schools and the district to parents]. The DELAC recommended that sites offer training sessions for families in their primary language or with translation services.
Improve Access to College and Career Planning and Exploration Services for English Learners
The next item that was discussed was the SFUSD Math Progress Report. Superintendent Wayne and the school board have decided to use a standardized test called the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium). The SBAC was funded by Race to the Top funds.
Here’s what the proposed goal is: “The percentage of all 8th grade students performing math at grade level as measured by the state tests (SBAC Math) will increase from 42% proficiency rate in October 2022 to 65% proficiency rate by October 2027.”
Superintendent Wayne did not include a plan to recruit and retain more qualified math teachers and paraprofessionals in his proposal.
There was also a proposed online learning program DreamBox Learning. DreamBox was acquired by the Charter School Growth Fund, a venture capital fund that funds the expansion of charter schools. It’s a very costly program. Superintendent Wayne wants students as young as kindergarten to start spending more time doing online learning for their math lessons.
Superintendent Wayne also wants to spend more of the district’s money on expensive consultants from The New Teacher Project (TNTP) to audit the math curriculum (see report linked above). TNTP was founded by Michelle Rhee, the star of Waiting for Superman. Both Michelle Rhee and this film are well-known for promoting charter schools and for demonizing teachers unions.
Public commenters had lots to say about this proposal. A number of commenters demanded the return of a class called 8th grade algebra. A math teacher from Mission High School (the school which had the highest acceptance rate of students applying to UC colleges - even beating out Lowell) explained that when the Common Core curriculum was instituted 10 years ago, the curriculum was designed so that students would have from a more in-depth study of algebra (teaching it more thoroughly so students could understand in-depth math concepts rather than just a surface-level understanding) and that this would better prepare them for the rigors of college-level math classes.
What do students say about the demand for a class called “8th grade algebra”?
One student delegate said that he had hoped to take calculus at his high school, but that he couldn’t because classes were full. He was still accepted to a UC system, and explained that UC admissions officers were very knowledgeable about math offerings at different school districts. For example, many rural California schools do not offer calculus.
SFUSD student public commenter said she doesn’t understand why a class named 8th grade Algebra I is needed. She mentioned that she is a Black scholar and is on the honor roll, was able to enroll in advanced classes.
True or False: SFUSD students aren’t learning algebra in the 8th grade.
Answer: False. Per the CA state common core standards, students learn algebraic and base ten concepts beginning in kindergarten.
Here is the unabridged version of our notes:
President Kevine Boggess says the district really needs to improve how it serves English learners. Superintendent Matt Wayne and the DELAC representative talk about having regular check-ins throughout the year. Boggess asks Wayne, “How do we insure the fidelity of our intentions at every school site, and not just district wide.”
Celebration of student delegates Cal and Isabella who are off to college. They will both major in some form of political science. Superintendent Wayne, Commissioners Fisher, Lam, Weissman-Ward, Motamedi, Boggess sing their praises and wish them luck. Student delegates make short comments.
District English Learner Advisory Council (DELAC) presentation from central office staff.
Presenting recommendations
https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/files/CS3N255A742A/$file/DELAC%20Recommendations%20Slides%20for%20BoE%20Presentation.pdf
DELAC: Recommend training and awareness. Hold training sessions at school sites with translation for target languages. Want to promote community involvement in DELAC and LCAP. Also recommend college and career counseling services tailored to the needs of English learners.
Data from 28 schools and 434 responses. English learners are ¼ of SFUSD student body.
School sites have ELAC (English Language Advisory Committees), some need help getting participation.
Only half of parents use ParentVue (app/website for private messaging and email) to get communications from schools. [This is primary way communications go out from schools and the district to parent]
Recommend training and awareness. Hold training sessions at school sites with translation for target languages. Want to promote community involvement in DELAC and LCAP. Also recommend college and career counseling services tailored to the needs of English learners.
President Boggess says the district really needs to improve how it serves English learners. He feels like he’s having deja vu, and asks Superintendent Wayne how he will ensure these recommendations get implemented this time around.
Wayne and the DELAC representative talk about having regular check-ins throughout the year.
Boggess addressing Wayne again “How do we insure the fidelity of our intentions at every school site, and not just district wide.”
Lam: “We’ve known this about ParentVue from the first year it was implemented”. Moves on to tout the newcomer program and DELAC’s other work.
Just a couple Zoom comments. All in support of DELAC’s work. “We’re all just here for our babies”.
DELAC committee asks when they can get a response to their recommendations. Wayne says he will provide timing in the next BOE meeting.
Workshop on student outcomes.
Commissioners move to sit around the table.
Boggess says there will be an announcement about public comment as they get close to the end of the workshop.
Wayne starts with saying in his first year his priority has been “listening and learning”.
One thing is clear that our current approach is not working. (Applause) Wayne objects to applause, this isn’t something to celebrate.
Black and Brown kids are not meeting their goals.
Recognizes the debate over math has caused division in the community.
Wayne references SBAC numbers
New proposed plan will be implemented (page 5 of report) over 5 years but starting next year - instructional audit, begin to design new curriculum. ES are getting new literacy and social studies in the next two years, so we can’;t give them new math for 2 more years
(AJ Crabill continues to give Wayne/BOE input. Crabhill helped with Houston ISD state takeover)
Boggess stresses that BOE questions should be addressed to Dr Wayne and not to staff.
New proposal is designed around what’s being done at Muir (there is media we can link to here). However this proposal does not match the funding that Muir has at a district-wide level. Muir does not use DreamBox
Student delegate: Why are we targeting AA in 3rd grade and Latinx in 7th grade - why inconsistencies?
Wayne: This is a recommending from Crabhill. “I don’t have a great answer.”
Motamedi asks how the system has evolved over the years as needed, staff says they’ve added capacity at 555 and at sites
Teachers at sites will have Instructional Guides (page 8 of reports) so every site will be using uniform curriculum. Will be PD for teachers. Boggess asks if there will be monitoring to see if all sites are using the new curriculum
Alexander: What analysis was done to determine why we were getting the results we got? (That is, what analysis was done to determine what was wrong with the existing system vs what we’re going to change)
Wayne: There’s inconsistency in standards and curriculum. (Then gets upset that Alexander asks a question that has a presumption of work – that Wayne should look into it)
Motamedi: Also wants to know what IS working, what’s an example of what is working vs what needs to be changed
Wayne: What I heard in [Alexander] question was “Don’t you have an audit, why do you need to do it”
Dr Priestly: We learned what grade level appropriate instruction looks like in the literacy audit and a math audit will help us develop the plan
Lam: Given workforce “challenges” and high turnover and how that impacts students, how do you address prof devt, retention of workforce
Wayne: Connection bt retention and PD – SF has a lot of learning opportunities. Will be adding PD for instructional guides and curriculum, especially for new teachers. “If we don’t, we don’t”
Lam: What have we learned from sites that have consistent PD time
Staff: From Muir - feedback routines, support staff, consistent instructional support staff, staff stability, shared assessment
Lam: Specifically asks for a MS example
Wayne: does not have any analysis or example from MS
Staff: they have a Salesforce report that they give because Salesforce because of the funding they give
Motamedi notes workarounds that families have used and wonders if there are positive stories. (Mentions Muir again).
Dr Wayne doesn’t know if there are department chair meetings. Acknowledges they're the ones working with our students
Alexander wants to know how we build a strategy going forward if we don’t know what went wrong with existing math curriculum
Fisher: Feels like we are where we were 10 years ago with literacy. What are we doing to systematize this?
Motamedi: There was an attempt to systematize the current curriculum (reads Board policy). What happened? Was that policy ever carried out? Policy includes Board review, which never happened
Fisher: Safe & Supportive Schools, Inclusive Schools – so many policies like that. There’s no follow-up and funding, they go nowhere.
Motamedi interrupts and demands that her question be answered (even though Fisher asked her question first)
Alexander: We have these lofty goals, and it’s easy for us to say it’s not working.
Wayne: This progress monitoring process makes us check in and see if we’re meeting our targets, and here’s what we’re learning about what’s happening in schools
Lam: How does this math sequence align with CCR?
Wayne: Part of HSTF - what classes do students want
Student Delegate Kinoshita: Colleges do consider that your HS might not offer a class like 8th grade algebra or calculus. Tried to double-up but Lowell classes were full
SD: First in my family to go to college. Look at college requirements. Limitations in AP classes. Give attention to first-gen students, low-income students to help them navigate college process
DreamBox for K-8 next year, BookNook for 9th graders this year, meeting with Stanford vendors
Public Comment
Rex: Supporting putting algebra back in 8th grade. Likens people in favor of SFUSD’s modernized math curriculum to violent criminals. Holds up crime scene tape to make his point.
Maya: Reads Pink Floyd lyrics
Parent, encourages speed up of math audit and implementation of new curriculum.
SFUSD math educator Rori: This is exactly how complex instruction works. Dr. Wayne, I could have answered all the questions the Board was just asking you. You should have asked labor, you should have asked teachers. Dr. Wayne you’re a newcomer, it was clear you didn’t know. How are you going to pay for this? You have 19 openings for math teachers.
SFUSD math educator Rachel: Improving outcomes requires consistency. Consistency of teaching staff requires money. Money the district says we don’t have. Training costs money. Just a new instruction plan won’t do it.
Parent: kids graduated Mission and Lowell. 10 years ago we were able to have better performance than what you are doing now. We are measured by how we can compete in the world.
John Dusrston: the TNTP research that was presented today reflects the effects of higher expectations.
Brandee: reads SFEA statement
Speaker: Thank you Board and Supe for taking this step. The district has been lying to the community about how we were doing. The board failed in its oversight duty. We should not be innovators, we should be learning from the
Julie: I’m a mathematician and an attorney. States at at UCSD there are no U.S. citizens in grad school for applied math. This is a national security issue.
Meredith Dodson: says she reps thousands of parents and students. It’s good to hear this acknowledgement of failure. It’s hard to do it in front of TV. The kids don’t have the the time to wait for pilots. We need urgent immediate action. Move on from 3 year plans let’s do what’s needed now.
Diane Yap from the Manhattan Institute: the only people here who support the failed algebra policy are ideologues or privileged. True equity is tracking. Let kids learn at their own pace. Limiting opportunity didn’t close the equity gap. [Speaking of equity, the last time we saw Diane at a school board meeting she made comments that were so incendiary the school board room had to be evacuated.]
Speaker: I’m a math teacher. I took algebra in 9th grade. This idea that needing to take calculus to get into a stem degree is false. Students used to know how to pass algebra tests but didn’t know anything about algebra. Students now have a much stronger understanding of algebra.
Selena Chu: I’m here to share my personal experience. I grew up in a Chinatown SRO. Do not assume low income kids cannot learn.
Speaker: Advocate for more opportunities for students who want to take higher math, but also uplift underperforming students. Bring parents together
Speaker: Appreciate that district isn’t defending the last 10 years of math anymore. Dr Wayne should apply the principles he’s used to improve EmPower to improve math
Speaker: One size fits all doesn’t work. Give student a solid foundation
Teacher at Galileo and parent: Math classes now are healthy and system is not as broken as people think it is
Rev. Brown: 1. This is like deja vu. Been here 47 years and my main problem is we must expect all children to excel. When you expose children and focus on the task you’ll be alright. Got to stop dumbing down expectations. 2. Engagement. Engage parents and community, particularly te AA community. 3. Empathy. Have real love for all children. 4. Excellence. Do it well or not at all. 5. Empowerment. Our goal should be to empower all children in math, literacy, and common sense. “I often thought about how many people I looked at but didn’t see.” We must not look at our children as objects and not see them. They are worthy
Zoom public comment
AAPAC (African-American Parent Advisory Council) member in support of the students and making they get what they need.
Differentiation of instruction of important, also needs more offerings.
Siva Raj: bring back the class called 8th grade algebra
Autumn Looijen: bring back the class called 8th grade algebra
PPS-SF staff calls in. Shout out to Muir staff for their work with students in math. [Side note: Muir received funding for their program.]. Conversation around high school coursework is a important one. How do we evaluate ourselves? Wants to see data on the number of SFUSD students who’ve completed college.
Leanna Louie: wants algebra in 8th grade and 7th grade. Says she learned algebra early. Didn’t seem to help her from getting struck from the ballot for alleged voting fraud.
Parent from AAPAC: algebra is taught in 3rd grade. SF has lots of billionaires but money doesn’t seem to trickle down to Black children.
SFUSD student doesn’t understand why ppl think an 8th grade Algebra I is needed. She is a Black scholar and is on the honor roll, was able to enroll in advanced classes.
Parent for Public Schools San Francisco staff caller. She is a disabled woman. Went to Palo Alto H.S. Wants to see more people included in information about math options.
Parent at Presidio Middle School. Wants 8th grade algebra. Wants superintendent to embrace chat GPT just like Eric Adams did.
SFUSD parent of 2 kids and an educator is concerned about the math plan being implemented equitably throughout the district.
Alex Wong. Scott Wiener’s former leg aide. Daughter starts Kindergarten in August. Likes the new curriculum. Doesn’t think the curriculum needs to piloted. Wants 8th grade algebra.
End of public comment
Board resumed regular business, which included an MOU for Thurgood Marshall and contracts for district executives. Recessed into closed session at 9:30 pm