Board Adopts Ethnic Studies Curriculum 6-1 After Marathon Hearing

The SFUSD Board of Education met for nearly eight hours on April 28, choosing a packed public hearing over sleep to advance the district's first comprehensive history textbook update in two decades — and its most politically charged ethnic studies vote yet. The meeting also became an early proving ground for June's looming budget battle, with four commissioners publicly conditioning their budget votes on targeted investments in Black student achievement and chronic absenteeism.

• Voices ethnic studies curriculum adopted 6-1 after dozens of students, educators and community organizations pack the board room

• Black families demand budget accountability — Commissioner Alexander says he will vote no on June budget without targeted investments in Black student achievement

• Chronic absenteeism projected to exceed 25%, worsening from last year as staffing cuts undermine attendance work

• Four commissioners draw budget red lines, tying their June votes to attendance, discipline and racial equity spending

• All district union contracts finalized through June 2028 in unanimous votes

• Management pay raises pass 6-1 amid conflict-of-interest questions and calls for comparative data

After hearing from what appeared to be the largest public turnout of the year, the San Francisco Board of Education voted 6-1 to adopt the Voices ethnic studies curriculum alongside Inquire Ed for elementary and McGraw Hill for high school history courses — a combined $7.3 million investment that replaces materials last updated in 2006.