Download - Parents for Public 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)**
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
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
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
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.
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: [email protected]
Website: www.ppssf.org