San Francisco (May 16, 2025) - In a significant show of collaboration and fiscal responsibility, the San Francisco Board of Education, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Superintendent Dr. Maria Su, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond have worked together to confirm funding that allows the district to cancel final layoff notices for 34 counselors and 117 paraeducators. SFUSD will also be able to hire an additional 77 teachers for the 2025-2026 school year.
Due to the state’s mandated May 15 deadline, the Board of Education took action to issue final layoff notices to 160 counselor and paraeducator positions out of an abundance of caution. SFUSD continued working closely with the California Department of Education (CDE) to identify appropriate funding for the impacted positions. As a result, the district will be able to retain all but nine paraeducator positions. SFUSD is working with United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) to explore all employment options for these nine paraeducators that honor the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This week the district also received approval to hire the 77 teaching positions to fill classroom vacancies for the 2025-26 school year in addition to the 162 classroom teachers approved to be hired earlier this month. The number is expected to grow. SFUSD continues weekly meetings with its CDE-appointed fiscal advisors to review positions and identify available funding.
“Thanks to the hard work and collaboration with the state and our labor partners, we are thrilled to be able to restore essential positions that support our students and schools,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Su. “This is the result of deliberate, strategic planning and partnership at all levels. I fully recognize that behind every number is a person who has faced real uncertainty. I sincerely hope each of you will choose to remain with SFUSD—your contributions are deeply valued, and you are an important part of our community.”
SFUSD has experienced increased oversight of its budget from the California Department of Education since May 2024. Before any positions are approved by the state-appointed fiscal advisors, SFUSD must demonstrate it has the money to pay for them. After a rigorous review of SFUSD key financial reforms, the fiscal advisors are allowing the district to move forward with hiring these positions for next school year. Contributing efforts include:
- The Supplemental Early Retirement Plan, which SFUSD proactively offered and has 378 participants, will save the district about $7 million over five years.
- The district developed a school staffing model, a mechanism for how staff are allocated to schools each year, aligning with statutory requirements and agreements with labor partners.
- The district has accounted for about $111 million of the planned cuts in the Fiscal Stabilization Plan to date, and is on track to meet its reduction targets.
- The district reduced staffing by releasing some teachers and other positions whose contracts were not extended for the next school year.
“This moves us closer to fiscal solvency while staying true to our educational mission,” said Board of Education President Phil Kim. “We are committed to long-term financial stability so that our focus can continue to remain on improving our student outcomes in third grade literacy, eighth grade math, and college and career readiness.”
While the reinstatements are a positive step, district leaders emphasized that all funding must be monitored carefully. The district’s Unrestricted General Fund continues to face a structural deficit, and current projections show tight reserve margins in 2026-27 and 2027-28. Any proposed compensation adjustments must follow state-required disclosures and be backed by sustainable funding plans.
To ensure continued progress toward fiscal solvency, the Fiscal Advisors will continue to maintain close oversight of all hiring decisions and budget actions. As mandated, the district must outline reduction strategies through 2027-28.
District leadership remains committed to open dialogue and transparent decision-making.
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