Remember: Templates are most effective when customized. Please take the template as a starting point. Highlight your own experiences with SFUSD’s Ethnic Studies program.
TO: mariasu@sfusd.edu, mattalexander@sfusd.edu, lisaweissman-ward@sfusd.edu, alidafisher@sfusd.edu, philkim@sfusd.edu, jaimehuling@sfusd.edu, paraggupta@sfusd.edu, supryiaray@sfusd.edu
Subject: [URGENT] No “pause” to SFUSD Ethnic Studies. Hear from the rest of us.
Dear Dr. Su and The Board of Education,
My name is [your name] and I am [insert your relationship to the district / Ethnic Studies]. I would like to express my support for SFUSD’s groundbreaking Ethnic Studies program. It comes to our attention that the superintendent has unilaterally made the decision to “pause” Ethnic Studies in the guise of a curriculum audit and adoption policy. This is a reaction to the complaints of a small group of parents. Your decision completely disregards the interests of the majority of SFUSD’s students, families, staff, and stakeholders. As a member of this stakeholder community, I wonder why little attempt has been made to reach out to the rest of us to seek our feedback about the Ethnic Studies program. I also wonder why the data showing the success of this program and the SFUSD employees who have made the effort to advise against this “pause” have been ignored.**
Our Ethnic Studies program stretched from its roots in the 1968 Ethnic Studies strike to become a model for the state of California and the nation. This prestigious program has been vetted by decades of research showing an increase in educational outcomes for all students, but the current proposal halts its implementation for an undemocratic and politicized review process. Should this go through, there will be drastic consequences including but not limited to:
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Deepening SFUSD’s budget crisis: This plan would cost upwards of $4 million dollars to suddenly purchase alternate materials that have not been fully adopted to suddenly be used in a few weeks instead of simply using our existing and data-backed Ethnic Studies Curriculum. Teachers will not be prepared based on your decision, and students may go months without curriculum. Decreasing SFUSD student achievement: The data shows how successful SFUSD Ethnic Studies is, yet your decision will “pause” these outcomes, especially for underserved student groups.
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Creating a student scheduling crisis: The high school Admin and Staff have worked tirelessly to have students schedules and teacher assignments done before the end of this past school year for months. Now your decision ignores all that and requires all high schools to start over. Students for the next 3-4 years will face barriers to participate in pathway programs and AP courses, affecting their chances in college admissions and actively working against our district goal of college and career readiness.
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Decreasing teacher effectiveness: By forcing teachers to take on new courses a week before school starts, you are making it impossible for teachers to be fully prepared to effectively support students at the start of the school year, not to mention invalidating all the work already done to prepare for their anticipated assignment. This would disproportionately target teachers of color and new educators who make up the majority of existing Ethnic Studies teachers.
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Emboldening efforts to dismantle anti-racist education and truth telling: SFUSD is a model for Ethnic Studies throughout the state and country. This “pause” disguised as an audit or adoption may become a blueprint for the Trump-era backlash against inclusivity, marginalized voices, and a much needed thoughtful exploration of life in the USA.
As San Francisco Teachers, Parents, Students and Staff, we affirm the urgent need for Ethnic Studies as one of the most effective academic interventions in SFUSD history.
We condemn the political targeting of Ethnic Studies. We demand that, if any review must be conducted, it should be by institutions with expert knowledge in Ethnic Studies. While this review happens, we expect the continuation of our tried, tested, and data-backed SFUSD Ethnic Studies curriculum.
We demand community accountability and democratic processes. Decisions this drastic must not be made behind closed doors during summer breaks, but instead should include the voices of students, families, educators, and community stakeholders. Before you make this public, we want you to know that if you decide to continue Ethnic Studies as is, you will have the support of students, families, teachers, the massive Ethnic Studies community that includes SFSU, UC Berkeley, and schools and organizations across the USA. We implore you to please set an example for school districts across California and stay steadfast in your commitment to the success of ALL students.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]