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After a Rigged Review Process, SFUSD Just Approved Its New Ethnic Studies Curriculum
Brief
SFUSD’s board approved the two‑semester 'Voices' ethnic studies curriculum in late April 2026 by a 6–1 vote, despite a paid $147,000 'independent' review process that critics describe as stacked and procedurally flawed. The EdLoC review set no passing threshold, placed district staff and 16 ethnic‑studies teachers on the committee, and allowed the program manager, Nikhil Laud, to attend all sessions. Specific anomalies include a parent reviewer scoring primary criteria 0.5 and 1/3 while teammates scored 2.5–3/3 (official average recorded 2.25) and reports that a facilitator interrupted substantive, page‑by‑page objections. Friends of Lowell Foundation has served a Brown Act demand letter seeking postponement and signaling imminent litigation. Critics also note fiscal and outcome concerns: SFUSD is funding a two‑semester local mandate with no state aid while district proficiency (math ~46%, ELA ~53%), enrollment (–4,000 since 2019), and recent grade‑level scores have not met targets.
Why it matters
On April 28, 2026 the San Francisco Unified School District board voted 6–1 to adopt the two‑semester 'Voices: An Ethnic Studies Survey' curriculum; board member Supryia Ray was the sole no vote.
Key details
- SFUSD paid $147,000 to Education Leaders of Color for an 'independent' review that lacked a pre‑set passing threshold; the review committee included 16 ethnic‑studies teachers, 15 SFUSD staff, and 8 community members, and district ethnic‑studies manager Nikhil Laud was present throughout sessions.
- Review irregularities cited: a parent reviewer (Scott Kravitz) scored primary criteria 0.5 and 1 of 3 while peers scored 2.5–3 and the official average recorded 2.25; critic Dana Bernstein says a facilitator curtailed her 100 page, page‑by‑page objections.
- Legal and fiscal fallout: Friends of Lowell Foundation sent a Brown Act demand letter seeking postponement and signaling litigation; SFUSD funds the two‑semester local mandate with no state funding (Newsom excluded ethnic‑studies funding in 2025) while district outcomes lag (district math proficiency ~46%, ELA ~53%, 4,000 students lost since 2019).