Golden Rules for San Francisco Schools: A Vision for Quality Public Education from Preschool through College

By Susan Leal

Executive Summary

The great cities of the future will be those that provide their children with the skills they need to compete and succeed in 21st Century. Education is our collective responsibility # for parents, teachers, government and business. For San Francisco to thrive and grow in the global economy, we must build a quality public school system that is admired as our bridges and our natural beauty. That is my vision and that is my commitment as Mayor.

My "Golden Rules for San Francisco Schools" education plan outlines my commitment to strengthening public education in San Francisco and my vision of a comprehensive education system that spans from preschool to College. The key principles of my "Golden Rules for S.F. Schools" proposal include:

• A commitment to a comprehensive "PreK # 14" public education system that spans from preschool through Community College for every San Francisco child.

• A stronger City-School District partnership and cooperative relationship to better coordinate city resources and services such as MUNI, libraries, arts programs and nonprofit programs with the needs of public schoolkids and the School District.

• A continued and increasing financial partnership between the City and County of San Francisco and the SFUSD through the newly created Public Education Special Fund developed by Treasurer Leal and members of the Board of Supervisors earlier this year.

• Expanded after-school and summer learning programs to keep kids active, healthy and safe.

• Increased support and opportunities for meaningful parental involvement in their children's education by urging businesses to provide parental leave to their employees for school activities and providing parents with greater access to school events and school information.

• A "Read by Third Grade" campaign to ensure that every San Francisco child is proficient in reading by the third grade.

• What you earn is tied to what you learn -- higher education opportunities at City College and enhanced vocational training opportunities through nonprofits and businesses for all students. There is a direct and powerful correlation between a college education and income in today's economy.

• Attracting and retaining the best and brightest teachers to San Francisco though ongoing professional development opportunities and housing assistance in the form of no-interest loans and rental assistance like similar programs in San Jose and other cities.

• Support for Propositions A and I on the November 2003 ballot to rebuild and renovate school facilities and expand preschool and quality childcare programs for the children of working parents.

I have made quality public education and improving San Francisco's public schools a cornerstone of my campaign for Mayor. "Golden Rules for S.F. Schools" is a critical component of my "Opportunity Agenda" to give every San Franciscan the opportunity to succeed. This plan builds on my earlier legislative initiatives to improve education in San Francisco. Earlier this year, I teamed up with Supervisors Chris Daly and Fiona Ma to create a Public Education Special Fund to track city contributions to SFUSD. In August, I worked with childcare and preschool advocates and Supervisors Daly, Dufty, Ma & Maxwell to place Proposition I # the "Smart Start" preschool and quality childcare initiative # on the November 2003 ballot.

Creating a City of Opportunity demands that we make education a collective priority and a collective responsibility. To do anything less is penny-wise and pound foolish.

To read the complete version of my education plan for San Francisco children, please see my website at http://www.susanleal.com.