August 11, 2009

Dear Parents and Caring Adults:

I am looking forward to a wonderful school year ahead.

Please take time during the first week of school to fill out some forms with important information we need to know about your child, including the free/reduced lunch form (even if you don’t think you qualify) and emergency card.

While we focus on making this year the best one yet for our students, we are preparing for the future. There are a few important changes we especially want you to be thinking about with us. Starting next school year, 2010-2011, students will begin one week earlier, August 16, and end one week earlier, May 27. This will allow students to have the many benefits associated with the semester ending before winter break. The community organizations that serve our children through summer programs have all been informed of this change and are working with us to make sure there is no interruption in service caused by this new calendar.

Also starting in the fall of 2010, every 9th grade student in every SFUSD high school will be on track to graduate eligible to attend any University of California (UC); this means completing the UC A-G requirements. We want college to be an option for all of our students and this is an important step. No matter what age your child, it is never too early to start learning about these requirements and talking to your child about college.

While we are fortunate to be in San Francisco where voters and local officials consistently support our schools, California spends less per pupil on education than almost any other state in the USA. This year alone, the state cut more than twelve billion from public schools. With the help of city funding and federal stimulus dollars, San Francisco public schools will be able to maintain most of our programs and teachers this year. That being said, we are still going to have to make many difficult decisions for next year’s budget. I encourage you to be an advocate for all of our city’s young people by speaking out to your elected representatives about the importance of funding public education.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We strive to prepare our students for success in college and career, and to keep them safe and joyful while learning in our schools.

Warm regards,

Carlos García

Superintendent