AAPAC Updates

Greetings African American Families, AAPAC Members, and Valued Partners,

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones well.

In a time such as this, the words and wisdom from Elders of the Hopi Native American Tribe are a good and timely reminder that we have all that we need within us, for we are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Please take a moment to read the text below, and check out the upcoming events and opportunities below. Stay informed, keep pushing, and reach out if needed. AAPAC can be reached via email at aapac@sfusd.edu. Please also check out our website and follow us on Facebook.

Until we meet again, be well.

Upcoming Virtual AAPAC Monthly Meeting

Join us for our annual AAPAC and Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education joint meeting on Thursday, November 19th at 5:30pm. Our topic will be on unpacking the root causes of Black children being disproportionately designated to special education and suspensions and what we as families can do about it. The link for the Zoom meeting will be shared in an upcoming email. To let us know that you are interested or to submit any questions or concerns you have related to the topic, please email us at aapac@sfusd.edu.

AAPAC’s 2020 Annual Board of Education Presentation

On October 20th, members of the AAPAC leadership team presented our annual report to the Board of Education. We were able to share our efforts and successes from the previous year, highlight the efforts of our site based Black family affinity groups, and offer recommendations for Board Commissioners and District Leadership to consider. Check out the slide presentation and audio recording for more information.

Previous October AAPAC Meeting

AAPAC joined families across the district for a Student Assignment Community Meeting Watch party and AAPAC Debrief on Tuesday, October 27th. We hosted over 56 participants and were able to gather and compile questions, concerns and suggestions that will be made to SFUSD regarding the proposed changes to the Student Assignment Policy. For more information on what was discussed, please review the recording. Enter the password: Nh9#38M*

SFUSD sends weekly emails to families called the Family Digest. If you are not receiving these communications, you may need to update your contact information in Family Portal (ParentVUE) to communicate with families. Learn how to check your contact information in Family Portal and update it if it is incorrect. If you don't have a Family Portal account, learn how to activate your account.

We have highlighted a few key updates, but for all current information, visit sfusd.edu/covid19.

SFUSD School Enrollment Fair

Virtual enrollment fairs for grades PreK-12 will be held November 6-13, 2020 online using Zoom and Google Meet. Due to Shelter-in-Place, schools will not host in-person tours this year. Instead, each school will provide a short video for families to watch and learn more about that school. Videos will be available to watch three days before the enrollment fair. Additional supports for this process:

• School Town Halls are 30 minutes online meetings where families can talk to principals and staff
• Workshops are informational meetings about a specific enrollment topic, such as How to Apply to a Language Program.
• All workshops will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Workshops are presented live, and recordings will be made available 3 days after the event.

For more information, visit https://www.sfusd.edu/schools/enroll/discover/virtual-enrollment-fair.

Main Round Enrollment Deadline: February 5, 2021

The last day to apply for SY 21-22 is February 5, 2021. The application (online and paper) will be available on sfusd.edu/enroll by November 1, please visit sfusd.edu/enroll for updates and details. For support, you can call the Educational Placement Center (EPC) team at 415-218-8454, email enrollinschool@sfusd.edu, or schedule a 1:1 virtual appointment.

Elementary and Middle School Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent teacher conference will be held November 16-20, 2020. Please check your individual school calendars for Parent Teacher Conference schedules. This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with your child’s teacher, partner to ensure your student is thriving academically and socially and to celebrate your child’s success. For conference tips, see the attached sheet from SFUSD’s Family Partnership and Empowerment Office or click here.

Student and Family Rights

Even during distance learning, students and families have rights we want you to know about. SFUSD has updated its equity-related policies related to:

• Sexual Harassment: Board Policy 5145.7 / Adminstrative Regulation 5145.7

• Bullying & Harassment: Board Policy 5131.2 / Administrative Regulation 5131.2

• NonDiscrimination: Board Policy 5145.3 / Administrative Regulation 5145.3

• Uniform Complaint Procedure: Board Policy 1312.3 / Administrative Regulation 1312.3

For additional information about the District's updated Sexual Harassment policies, made in accordance with TItle IX Changes from the Department of Education, please visit this website. The Student and Family Handbook has more information about these rights and others.

Updates on Returning to School

SFUSD is preparing to move into a hybrid model for small groups of priority students once science and data suggest it is safe to do so. In order to reopen school buildings for in-person instruction, several factors need to be in place. The School Reopening Readiness Overview for Phase 2A shares the work happening to prepare schools for a safe reopening beginning with the youngest students (early elementary) and students with disabilities in moderate/severe special day classes.

To learn more, view the readiness dashboard.

Access to Technology

Families who still need technology for their students will need to complete the Online Technology Request Form in ParentVUE.

• If you haven’t activated your ParentVUE account yet, please contact your school site for an activation key and follow the steps at sfusd.edu/activate

• Log in to your ParentVUE account at portal.sfusd.edu, and click on “Online Forms.”

• You can find step-by-step instructions for completing the Online Technology Request Form and a recorded video example at bit.ly/SFUSDtechrequestguide

• If you have questions or have issues completing the form, reach out to your school for support.

Family Resources

SFUSD lists a variety of supports for families such as free meal pick up sites and times, health and wellness resources, a direct line to access real time support. For more information, please visit the SFUSD Family & Students Support page, or call 415-340-1716 Monday through Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm.

Interested in becoming a SFUSD Teacher?

The SFUSD Pathway to Teaching program will be accepting applications in 3 credential areas: Special Education (mild/moderate), Bilingual Spanish, and a limited number of Multiple Subject candidates (*NOTE: given limited spots for Multiple Subject, we will only hold ONE application deadline for this subject area. To be considered, candidates must apply by November 15th). To view a short video of the program follow this link.

Interested applicants should take the following steps:

1. Mark calendars with the following dates:

1. October 2020: SFUSD Pathway to Teaching Application is now Live!

2. November 15th: Priority Deadline for SFUSD Pathway to Teaching!

2. Take 2 minutes to create a Teacher Track account here.

3. Register for a webinar:

1. November 18, 5:00pm - 6:00pm

2. December 16, 5:00pm - 6:00pm

3. January 6, 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Attached are a one-pager and FAQ document to provide additional information about the program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates should apply by the priority application deadline on November 15th, 2020.

AAPAC encourages you to stay connected to community resources as well. Please visit the websites listed below for more information on activities and opportunities throughout San Francisco.

SF Family Support Services Respite Program

The mission is to nurture children, youth and caregivers to keep families healthy and intact. FSSBA has several programs designed to support families in need of a break.

• FREE Emergency Back-Up Child Care for CalWORKs Families -- Child care provided at the home of a licensed/certified child care provider (available to CalWORKs participants who need to attend work, school, or training).
• “Adventure Time” (Online – via Zoom) – Free virtual “respite” program offered to parents who simply need a quick break or need to attend their at-home work, school, or training. Adventure Time is an online children’s program where children get to interact, learn, play, and engage in fun games and learning activities.
• Respite for RFA Providers (Resource Family Approval) and/or Relative Caregivers

Community Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC): The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is to advocate for effective Special Education programs and services, and advise the Board of Education on priorities in the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). CAC meets every 4th Thursday of the month. Visit their linked site for more information.

Mo’Magic: Mo’ MAGIC is a collaborative, San Francisco neighborhood-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform the community and youth through the MAGIC of collaboration.

B’Magic: (BMAGIC) is a network of San Francisco neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations whose mission is to facilitate, coordinate and develop community resources and opportunities that support service providers and community members in Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP).

Rafiki Coalition: Rafiki's goal is to improve people’s lives by reversing the history of health inequalities that affect the Black community and other under-served groups in San Francisco. We provide a safe, supportive environment where people can find a path to wellness by understanding their health issues, becoming more physically active and eating a healthy diet.

Coleman Advocates: Coleman currently focuses on building more effective, equitable, and supportive public schools in San Francisco and beyond. Their primary focus is fighting to advance rights, safety, and full inclusion of low-income people of color.

The YMCA of San Francisco: Our neighboring YMCAs offer a variety of resources and opportunities that are free or low cost to the community.

SF Beacon Initiative: Grounded in the community schools model/framework, Beacon Centers are committed to a cohesive, comprehensive, and collaborative approach that creates pathways to lifelong learning and transformative experiences for youth and the adults who support them through advocacy, leadership, networking and program support.

Parents for Public Schools SF: Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco is a nonprofit organization that helps families to navigate SFUSD enrollment, to understand education policy and decision-making, and to become empowered, engaged members of their school communities.

Email: aapac@sfusd.edu
Website: sfusd.edu/aapac
Location: 1551 Newcomb Avenue, San Francisco, CA, USA
Phone: 415-241-6121
Facebook: facebook.com/sfaapac