San Francisco (June 30, 2025) - San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Superintendent Dr. Maria Su announced today a comprehensive plan for the district’s Ethnic Studies curriculum beginning in the 2025-26 school year. The plan is designed to support strong student outcomes in the upcoming school year and build on the district’s ongoing efforts to ensure stability and improvement.
SFUSD recognizes that Ethnic Studies is an important and deeply complex topic. Since taking the helm of SFUSD in October 2024, Superintendent Su has focused on listening to diverse communities and centering students at the forefront of her decision-making. To that end, Superintendent Su is thoughtfully aligning implementation of SFUSD’s Ethnic Studies offerings with San Francisco Board of Education Policy, California State Board of Education Guidelines, and Common Core standards. To date, Superintendent Su has considered various administrative options through extensive consultation with central and school administrators, teachers, educational experts, parents, and stakeholders across San Francisco.
“We must take deliberate steps to ensure our Ethnic Studies curriculum reflects both educational excellence and our values,” said Superintendent Dr. Maria Su. “I remain deeply committed to the importance of Ethnic Studies in developing critical thinking, cultural understanding, and civic engagement among our students. As we prepare for a successful start to the school year, my goal is for SFUSD to offer Ethnic Studies with intention, quality, and shared purpose.”
This plan reflects Dr. Su’s commitment to ensure that all students benefit from a curriculum that is inclusive, academically rigorous, and aligned with SFUSD values. This plan meets both SFUSD’s immediate needs for this coming school year and delivers the opportunity for a comprehensive review and strengthening of Ethnic Studies in San Francisco, while honoring SFUSD’s long-standing commitment to Ethnic Studies.
“This approach to Ethnic Studies shows SFUSD's commitment to supporting the development of students who are knowledgeable in the experiences of others in a globalized, interconnected world. It shows that San Francisco, a world class City and the birthplace of many movements for liberation and freedom is putting forward a program that reflects our values of equality, justice, and respect for all, rooted in a rigorous analysis of history and social science. It provides our SFUSD students with the tools to learn critical thinking skills that they will need as they inherit our democracy and shape it into the future,” said District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and SFUSD parent.
For this coming year, the district will pilot a new Ethnic Studies curriculum currently used by other school districts that meets California State Board of Education Guidelines and Common Core standards, while also strengthening Administrative controls over supplemental materials to support consistent implementation. Over the next year the district will undergo a comprehensive audit of Ethnic Studies. SFUSD will engage with educators, families, and community members during the development of a comprehensive curriculum aimed at improving student outcomes, for adoption by the San Francisco Board of Education. These administrative changes address immediate concerns while ensuring that educators and school administrators are prepared at the start of the new school year. The plan seeks to preserve student choice and access to college prep coursework toward post-secondary attainment.
“UESF leadership fully supports SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Su and the Board of Education's decision to maintain Ethnic Studies, ensuring our students and educators experience no disruptions when they return in the fall,” said Frank Lara, United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) Executive Vice-President.
“High school principals are thrilled that we can continue with our master schedules as planned for the 2025-2026 school year,” said Anna Klafter, United Administrators of San Francisco (UASF) President. “Ethnic Studies is a foundational course in our social science sequence and we know how important Ethnic Studies is for our students and families. As school leaders, we have seen firsthand how impactful Ethnic Studies is in connecting students to school, creating a sense of belonging and building crucial critical thinking skills.”
SFUSD is recognized for its early and sustained leadership in high school Ethnic Studies programs. Research, including two studies from Stanford University, has found positive outcomes associated with SFUSD students participating in the course, including higher attendance, credit accumulation, graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment.
Superintendent Su will implement the following administrative changes to SFUSD’s Ethnic Studies:
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SFUSD will implement a new Administrative Regulation on supplemental instructional materials. This regulation provides a process to review supplemental materials to ensure that they are aligned with District curriculum objectives and academic standards, directly related to the course of study where they are being used, and appropriate to the age and maturity of the students, and consistent with labor agreements.
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SFUSD will initiate an independent audit of its Ethnic Studies curriculum by working with a diverse review committee that includes educators, community members, and families to develop a vetted and standards-aligned curriculum for Board adoption.
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SFUSD will fully implement BP 6146 which governs SFUSD’s high school graduation requirements, including two semesters of Ethnic Studies.
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There is no change to course offerings or sequencing in the 2025-26 school year. Students who do not wish to take Ethnic Studies may opt-out of the course at their high school next year as long as they fulfill their graduation requirement. SFUSD will continue to work towards expanding course offerings including AP, Honors, and College Credit courses that broaden students’ opportunities and exposure to content that is culturally relevant and responds to students’ interests.
“We stand in solidarity with District leaders, AAALI, the NAACP, countless community partners, and many amazing educators throughout SFUSD who believe students must always come first.” says Elisa Dangerfield, African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) Parent Leader. “We appreciate Dr. Su’s decision to do what is right for students! Strengthening Ethnic Studies rather than pausing or abandoning it sends a message to students that their stories, identities, and histories matter. The data shows that Ethnic studies boosts attendance, GPA, and a deep sense of belonging, especially for students of color. It did for my son.”
“I support the superintendent’s plan. It puts students at the center, and presents thoughtful solutions while we work together as a community to improve how ethnic studies is taught in the long run to truly reap the benefits it promises” said Tina Lee, parent of incoming 9th grader and Lowell High School Alum.
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