AAPAC Updates

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

In this final month of 2020, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate each of you in our AAPAC community. For many of us, this year has presented a flurry of unexpected challenges and hurdles. Yet, like Dr. Maya Angelo professed, Still We Rise. Though finding triumphs during a pandemic and social unrest may seem difficult, we urge you to continue searching for, elevating and celebrating the victories, no matter how small. One of those victories has been the growth of AAPAC. Our participation numbers have significantly grown (almost double!) and so has the support of our organization.

Thank you for investing your time and energy into supporting the academic achievement of Black students through parent advocacy. Thank you for the meetings you've attended, the feedback you've provided, the resource offerings you've shared, and the personal extensions of love and support you have offered one another. We are truly stronger together. As 2021 approaches, we wish you all things happy, healthy and prosperous.

In the meantime, please check out the upcoming events and opportunities below. Please also share them with families and friends within your network.

In Unity,

AAPAC

Upcoming Virtual AAPAC Monthly Meeting

Join us on December 17th at 5:30pm for our annual celebration of Black Excellence. In preparation for the event, please share any pictures or short videos you have showcasing your child(ren) being EXCELLENT! This includes them participating in any academic, sporting, or extracurricular activities. For example, if your child is a poet or spoken word artist, do you have pictures/videos of them reciting their poem? If your child builds, do you have a picture of them in action? Or, what about painting? Have a picture of their masterpiece? All approved submissions emailed by parents to aapac@sfusd.edu will be added to a Black Excellence slideshow. Please submit no later than December 11th.

The Zoom link for the meeting will be posted in future updates.

Previous November AAPAC Meeting

In partnership with the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education, AAPAC hosted over 100 participants for our annual collaboration meeting. Our topic this year was Understanding Disproportionality: Continuing the Conversation. Together we unpacked the root causes for why Black Children are being disproportionality designated for Special Education and suspensions and what we as families can do about it. For more information on what was discussed, please review the recording here.

Questions and Concerns about Re-Opening Schools

AAPAC is interested in hearing the thoughts, concerns and questions of Black families regarding the possible reopening schools and in person learning. Feel free to send them to us at aapac@sfusd.edu. We will seek to get responses ASAP.

* No school December 21 through January 4, 2021

Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS) Stakeholder Meeting

SFUSD was identified by the California Department of Education to analyze District practices and develop plans to improve the academic outcomes and school experience of our African American students and our students on IEPs. On December 2nd at 5:30pm SFUSD is holding CCEIS/SEP Stakeholder meetings to address academic performance, discipline and disproportionality of SFUSD students in Special Education. To join, complete this stakeholder interest form. For more information, check out the flyer.

Inclusive Schools Week is December 7th - 11th, 2020!

Join SFUSD school sites across the district in celebrating Inclusive Schools Week. Historically, Inclusive Schools Week (ISW) has been an opportunity for us to come together to honor all students with disabilities as full members of our school communities. With this year’s theme of "The Time for Inclusion is Now,” there is a recognition of the importance of inclusion across all differences, as well as the urgency of acting in the present moment to rectify injustices across all aspects of our society.

To participate or for ideas on how to celebrate ISW, reach out to your child's school, or check https://www.sfusd.edu/sped-isw.

Reopening of Schools for In-Person Learning:

SFUSD has set a target date of Jan. 25, 2021 for the first wave of schools to open for in-person learning.

• Families will have a choice about whether to return to in-person or stay in distance learning.
• Schools will not re-open until the district can implement all health and safety measures recommended by the SF Department of Public Health.
• Families of the first wave of students will be contacted soon. Please be on the look out for an interest survey. Complete and return ASAP.

For more information of the process and the what schools are in which wave, read Dr. Matthew's Letter to Families.

Meal Pick Up Change

Free school meals are provided to all children in SF under the age of 18. Please be aware that pick up times have changed (see below). For more information on locations and what documents to bring, visit the SFUSD Nutrition and School Meals Page.

• Tuesdays: Free Meals Available for SFUSD Students & Siblings
  On Tuesdays, 5 days’ worth of meals, including breakfast, lunch, supper, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk is available. Closed January 5, pick up Wednesday, January 6 instead.
• Thursdays: Free Meals Available for All Children 18 & Younger
  On Thursdays, 2 days’ worth of meals, plus snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk is available. SFUSD families can pick up free meals one or both days! Closed December 17, pick up Friday, December 18 instead. Closed January 7, pick up Friday, January 8 instead.
• Holiday Schedule: Closed December 21-January 5
  On Friday, December 18, 7 days’ worth of meals is available for all children 18 and younger, including SFUSD students, to accommodate the holiday closure.

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.

Staying Up to Date

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.

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.

SEO Scholars

SEO Scholars is a tuition-free eight-year academic program that gets underserved public high school students to and through college—with a 90% college graduation rate. 9th grade families APPLY NOW! The deadline is December 15th.

Masin Scholar Award via the SF Education Fund

The Maisin Scholar Award Program was designed to identify and support students who are determined to achieve their academic goals beyond high school.The Maisin Scholar Award provides:

• Financial support
• Academic and career counseling
• Internships and professional development opportunities
• Encouragement and direction
• Community and peer support

You are eligible if you are are a San Francisco Unified School District senior with at least a cumulative unweighted GPA between 2.0 and 3.5, have a demonstrated financial need and will attend college or an accredited educational program in the fall of your high school graduation year. SENIORS APPLY NOW.

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/aapacsf