Meanwhile, Over in San Francisco Unified School District.... Part 1
I knew that San Francisco Unified School District was on the Student Outcome Focused Governance (SOFG) train but didn't know just how much. (Fun Fact: I lived in the Bay Area and, at one point, right in San Francisco. A very happy time in my life.)
Here's a link to their website and oh man! what a plethora of real information. There is no comparison to the SPS website.
So first, let's compare what it looks like for "Goals and Guardrails." Please note that each district has chosen different names for similar goals as well as the number of the goal. However, SPS doesn't cover as broad a spectrum of issues as SFUSD does.
As well, you can see the fine hand of SOFG guru, A.J. Crabill, except that the SPS versions come across fairly harshly while SFUSD's seem to have a kinder, gentler tone. Whose fine hand made the SPS versions harsher? I'd bet it was former director Chandra Hampson.
SPS
Guardrail 1: Engagement
The superintendent will not allow school and district initiatives to go forth without engaging students of color furthest from educational justice and their families, following stakeholder engagement principles that are utilizing current adopted best practices.
SFUSD
Guardrail 1 Effective Decision-Making:
The superintendent will not make major decisions without utilizing a process–that includes meaningful consultation with the parents/guardians, students, and staff who will be impacted by those decisions–at the inception, adoption, and review.
Obviously, the titles are different but the SFUSD guardrail IS their "engagement." Quite the difference and the main one being that in SFUSD it appears that, no matter the topic, they will engage directly with "parents/guardians, students, and staff who will be impacted by those
decisions" and not just that but all the entire way through. That likely means a much wider pool of parents and students.
SPS
Guardrail 2: Operations
The superintendent will not allow operational systems to deliver unreliable service.
SFUSD
Guardrail 4 - Resource Allocation
The Superintendent will not allow resources to be allocated without transparently communicating how the allocations are baseline sufficient to operate all schools while addressing inequitable inputs and creating more equity and excellence in student outcomes.
Guardrail 3: Districtwide Vision and Anti-racism
The superintendent will not allow adult behaviors in central office, school buildings, or classrooms that are misaligned with districtwide vision, values, and anti-racism initiatives.
SFUSD
Has no guardrail similar to this SPS guardrail. And again, what does it truly mean? The Superintendent wags his finger to the staff masses and says don't do it? Or what? This SPS guardrail makes it sound like the Superintendent can fire at will and that's not true.
SPS
Guardrail 4: Discipline
The superintendent will not allow the use of disciplinary actions as a substitute for culturally responsive behavioral and social emotional supports for students, with and without disabilities.
SFUSD
Guardrail 2 - Serving the Whole Child
The Superintendent will not take approaches that neglect the cognitive and academic development, social and emotional development, identity development, physical and mental well-being, or ethical and moral development of students.
Both start off the same but SPS' is more about "disciplinary actions" than overall student emotional support that SFUSD's has.
SPS Yeah, SPS has no guardrail on C&I and that is troubling.
SFUSD
Guardrail 3- Curriculum & Instruction
The Superintendent will not allow curriculum and instruction
that is not rooted in excellence, challenging and engaging, not
student-centered, not culturally responsive, or not differentiated to
meet the academic needs of all students.
SPS
Guardrail 5: Safe and Welcoming
The superintendent will not allow any district department, school building, or classrooms to provide unwelcoming environments.
SFUSD
Guardrail 5 - Strategic Partnerships
The Superintendent will not impede collaboration with the City of San
Francisco, state and federal agencies, community-based organizations,
philanthropic organizations, and the business community to advance the
District’s goals and values.
Again, the SPS emphasis is on adult behaviors and SFUSD is clear that their Board of Education can collaborate with anyone it wants to. It's a bit puzzling because I think SOFG would say it's the Superintendent who goes out into the wider community. Hmmm.
Next up - San Francisco Unified School District's "Resource Alignment Initiative." Yes, it does include closures.
Yeah, SPS has no guardrail on C&I and that is troubling.
SFUSD
Guardrail 3- Curriculum & Instruction
The Superintendent will not allow curriculum and instruction that is not rooted in excellence, challenging and engaging, not student-centered, not culturally responsive, or not differentiated to meet the academic needs of all students.
SPS
Guardrail 5: Safe and Welcoming
The superintendent will not allow any district department, school building, or classrooms to provide unwelcoming environments.
SFUSD
Guardrail 5 - Strategic Partnerships
The Superintendent will not impede collaboration with the City of San Francisco, state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, philanthropic organizations, and the business community to advance the District’s goals and values.
Again, the SPS emphasis is on adult behaviors and SFUSD is clear that their Board of Education can collaborate with anyone it wants to. It's a bit puzzling because I think SOFG would say it's the Superintendent who goes out into the wider community. Hmmm.
Next up - San Francisco Unified School District's "Resource Alignment Initiative." Yes, it does include closures.
Comments
Concerned