Parents forPublic Schools of San

Francisco

Countdown to Kindergarten

© PPS-SF, August 2, 2014

Parents for Public Schools – San Francisco

• A nonprofit organization.

• Funded by donations from parents and organizations.

• Goals: Engage. Educate. Connect.

Our Mission: PPS-SF supports student success by developing effective family-school partnerships, strong parent-parent relationships, and broad community support for public education.

PPS-SF Programs

•Enrollment

•PPS-SF School Ambassadors

•Parent Clubs

•School Governance

•Community Conversations

Why we are here today…

Provide incoming Kindergarten parents with information on:

• San Francisco’s public schools.

• Enrolling your child in San Francisco Unified

School District (SFUSD).

• Engaging with SFUSD Schools.

San Francisco Public Schools• Great schools • High standards and accountability http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/

• Excellent teachers• Many school/program options • Charter schools• Small class size • Partnerships with local organizations• Sports, Libraries, Arts, Music, and Student Support

(Prop H)• College savings for all kindergarteners• Democratic institutions

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)

Board of Education – 7 members elected by the public.

SFUSD is lead by the superintendent, Richard Carranza.

Principal is the administrator of the school.

Staff may include - Paraprofessionals- Family liaison- Student advisors- Librarian- Learning support professional (social worker)- Nurse

TK and K Options for Families

San Francisco is a Parent Choice District. Any Student can apply to any school in San Francisco.

• 14 current TK sites• 72 schools, 100+ options for K• K-8• K-5 with feeder middle schools• Unique identities • Language options• GATE, Special Education offerings• Charter schools

Pathways

• General Education• Biliteracy

• Cantonese, Spanish, Filipino (grades 3-5)• Immersion

• Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish• FLES

• Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Filipino• Newcomer

Immersion

• 9 Spanish • Alvarado, Bret Harte, Buena Vista, Fairmount, Flynn,

Marshall, Monroe, Paul Revere, Daniel Webster

• 4 Cantonese • Alice Fong Yu, West Portal, Chinese Immersion School,

Garfield

• 2 Mandarin• Starr King, Jose Ortega

• 1 Korean• Claire Lilienthal

FLES

• 7 programs

Clarendon (Japanese)Rosa Parks (Japanese)Bessie Carmichael (Filipino)Longfellow (Filipino)Clarendon (Italian)**

Applying is easy…

Just do it on time

The Process Timeline:September 2014 • Gather data through on-line resources.

October 2014– January 2015 • Tour schools.• Attend open houses, school events, PPS enrollment events.

October 25, 2014 • Attend the School Fair, meet K-12 and charter schools.

January 16, 2015 • Apply on-time by the deadline.

March 13, 2015 • Offer letters sent.

March 16 – 27, 2015April 6 – 10, 2015

• You must register at your assigned school to accept the district’s offer.

(Schools are closed during Spring break: March 30- April 3, 2015.)

Spring/Summer 2015 • Additional Placement Period & Appeals.• Round 2 deadline: April 10, 2015• Waiting pool (Round 3) deadline: May 22

To apply:

• Child must be 5 years old by September 1, 2015 to apply for K.

• Children born Sept. 2 – Dec. 2, 2010 eligible for Transitional K.

• Choose any number of schools/programs – up to 110!

• Put them in the order that you want them.

• Apply by the deadline (January 16, 2014).

• Submitting early does not increase chances. But applying late will hurt your odds.

• Bring documentation to EPC, 555 Franklin Street, Room 100, Satellite locations, or Mobile Bus. Younger siblings can turn in applications at sibling’s current school.

• Contact charter schools individually.

Required documentation to submit an application.

1. Application form2. Parent/guardian’s

picture ID3. Proof of birth4. Two (2) proofs of

home address that include the name and address of the parent/guardian.

Language Assessment Requirements

• Applicants who list any language other than English on the first 3 questions may initially be classified as potential English Learner.

• All applicants who list any of the following languages on the first 3 questions on the home language survey and apply for an immersion program will need to take a non-English Language Assessment:

• Cantonese• Mandarin • Spanish • Korean

• Assessment will take place at EPC, 555 Franklin Street.

• Applications can be modified after the assessment and counseling without being considered a late applicant as long as the original application was submitted by deadline.

Special Education Programs

Terms and programs• Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Document detailing services provided under special education.

• Regular Classroom (formerly Inclusion)Available at all schools for K-2, 6-11, select schools for other

grades (3-5, 12)

• Special Day Classes (SDC) Available at select schools

IEP Tips

• If you have any questions about IEPs call:

Support for Families

(415) 920-5040*for IEP technical assistance and monthly IEP workshops

Myth or Truth?

Majority of families get

one of their choice schools.

Grades First Choice Total Choice Designated

Overall 8,305 (59%) 11,539 (82%) 2,615 (18%)

Kindergarten 2785 (60%) 4,017 (87%) 599 (13%)

6th 2,333 (69%) 2,890 (86%) 474 (14%)

9th 2,645 (61%) 3,709 (86%) 625 (14%)

The odds are in your favor…

March 2014 Assignments for K-12

Application form

Application form

Student Assignment Terms

• Elementary Attendance Areas• Elementary City-Wide programs• Low Test Score Areas (CTIP1)

Student Assignment SystemElementary School

Tie-breakers are used when there are more applicants than seats available

1. Siblings.

2. Attend attendance area SFUSD Pre-K or TK and live in the attendance area.

3. Low test score areas.

4. Attendance area (not applicable for city-wide programs/schools).

Student Assignment System

Computer run, 2 steps:

• Tie-breakers• For each school/program• Individual rank choice

• Transfer (trading up) process

110 Buckets

Step 1 – For each program/school

• 100 applicant names

Tie-Breakers

1. Siblings

2. Attendance area SFUSD Pre-K or TK AND live in attendance area

3. Low test score areas

4. Attendance area (not applicable for City-Wide programs/schools)

5. Others

• 60 seats

Step 1 – for individual rank choice

1. School 1

2. School 2

3. School 3

4. School 4

5. School 5

6. School 6

7. School 7

8. School 8

9. School 9

10. School 10

Step 2 – trading up

Me1. School 1

2. School 2

3. School 3

4. School 4

5. School 5

6. School 6

7. School 7

8. School 8

9. School 9

10. School 10

You1. School 10

2. School 5

3. School 8

4. School 4

5. School 3

6. School 6

7. School 7

8. School 3

9. School 9

10. School 1

How do I find these Schools?

• SFUSD School Fair, October 25, 2014

• PPS-SF enrollment events at libraries and schools

• SFUSD Enrollment Guide

• SFUSD map

• Online resources

• Use your parent network

• School websites, tours, and events

• Principals, teachers, and staff

What is important to you?

• Proximity/transportation• Language• Start times• After school/before school care• Special programs & school focus• Parent involvement/staff and principal involvement• Environment, school size, and class size• Library, technology, extracurricular activities• School culture and values

More tips

• Keep an open mind. Check out schools with lower demand.• Test scores alone are not necessarily good indicators of school

quality.• More funds raised do not necessarily equal more programs or

services.• Evaluate schools based on current information. Schools are

changing and improving every year. • Be sure to look at all the grades throughout the school,

including upper grades.

See our website www.ppssf.org for a school tour checklist.

Now that you are done enrolling…

Before the start of school

English Language• Read 10-15 minutes per day!• Encourage words (instead of pointing).• Point out environmental words (signs, labels, posters).

Math• Make mathematics a part of your daily activities-

heading.• Count frequently – everywhere, every way.• Help in the kitchen with measuring items. • Relate money and shopping.

Things you can do – ELA and Math

Before school starts

Sign up for SFUSD bus service, if needed.Complete health check up.

Adjust bedtime and wake times.

Attend school orientation.

Look into before/after school care.

Label everything!

Important things to note

• Get your child to school on time.• Keep your child home if sick – call the school.• Complete and submit paperwork.• Make sure homework is done.• Say something if there are questions or

concerns with school staff.• Teacher, family liaison, social worker

When school starts

Check child’s bag daily and read notices from the teacher or school.

Inform the school or teacher about any special needs.

Attend Back-to-School Night.Ask for reports/letters in home language.

K2C Current Incentives

Family Contribution

City Contribution

Kindergarten to College Opening Deposit

$50

Free or Reduced Lunch(Make sure to sign consent form)

$50

$100 Family Match($1 for $1 for first $100)

$100 $100

$100 Save Steady Bonus($10/month for 6 months)

$60 $100

Total $160 $300

How can I help?

• Go on class field trips.• Putting homework packets together.• Work with individual students.• Participate in events.• Decorate bulletin boards.• Clean the classroom.• Be an organizer- eg. “room parent.”

Get to know…

• Parent organizations (PTA/PTO)• School Site Council (SSC)• Advisory committees (ELAC)• Volunteer groups• Special events

Vote in elections

Speak up, ask questions and give feedback!

Community Engagement

PTA

School Governance

School Site Council

ELAC

Join our network!www.ppssf.org

Connect with other parentsGet updates

SchoolsEventsDistrict policies

Be representedSupport and donateGet involved!

More information and help

• SFUSD website, www.sfusd.edu• Parents for Public Schools, www.ppssf.org • PPS yahoo group, groups.yahoo.com/group/PPS_SF • Elementary yahoo group, groups.yahoo.com/group/ES-enrollment-PPSSF• School websites• SFkids (out of school time program info) www.sfkids.org • Test score/demographic info: www.Greatschools.net • Standards, test scores: California State Website: www.cde.ca.gov • SF Advocates for Multilingual Excellence: groups.yahoo.com/group/SF_AME• Support for Families of Children with Disabilities: http://

www.supportforfamilies.org• College savings account, K2C, www.k2csf.org • Fundraising for schools, http://www.escrip.com

Thank you

Contact PPS-SF if you have other questions:

Phone: (415) 861-7077

Email: info@ppssf.org

Website: www.ppssf.org