SFUSD unveils CCIE plan to tackle racial disproportionality in special education; board presses for resources

The San Francisco Unified School District presented the CCIE (Comprehensive, Coordinated Early Intervening) plan required by the California Department of Education after the CDE determined the district showed significant disproportionality in identification of African American students for emotional disturbance (ED), other health impairment (OHI), and in disciplinary actions.

Janice Jones Mitchell and Director Margaret Farrugio described the plan as a multi‑phase effort anchored to district goals and guardrails that sets measurable outcomes for reducing suspensions and out‑of‑class time, improving attendance, strengthening family partnerships and revising policies and practices. The plan emphasizes a case‑management model to "know each and every rising scholar by name" and targets a set of schools (the presentation listed focal schools across elementary, middle, high and early‑ed sites) for initial interventions.

Presenters said CCIE is a federally conditioned program that requires setting aside 15% of IDEA grant funds to invest in general‑education interventions aimed at interrupting disproportionality. Staff explained a planning process that included a success summit, root‑cause analysis and selection of targeted school sites for year‑one supports.

Commissioners welcomed the presentation but pressed staff on resource alignment, accountability and the need to embed the CCIE actions into district goals and budget planning. Several commissioners said implementation success will depend on redirecting sufficient resources, ensuring paraprofessional capacity at sites and creating clear dashboards to monitor progress.

No final plan approval by CDE was recorded at the meeting; staff will submit the district's 2022 plan to the CDE for approval and proceed to implementation and evaluation if the CDE releases funds.