Board approves $39.7 million learning‑recovery plan focused on literacy, tutoring and wellness

The Board of Education voted to approve SFUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) grant plan, the district’s formal strategy for spending $39.7 million in state learning‑recovery funds to address COVID‑era learning loss.

Deputy Superintendent Anikia Fort Worth Health presented the plan’s three phases: immediate summer 2021 investments, 2021–22 school‑year implementation, and follow‑up activities for summer 2022. The plan centers on three broad priorities: districtwide supports (classroom libraries, teacher collaboration and literacy), targeted interventions for students who fell behind (expanded tutoring, small‑group instruction and extended summer programming), and student and staff well‑being (coordinated care teams, family wellness checks and expanded out‑of‑school time offerings).

Budget office staff described how proposed expenditures map to the state template and noted the district will coordinate ELO dollars with federal ARP/ESSER III funds and existing local programs. Anne Marie Gordon said the ELO plan must be submitted to the California Department of Education by the end of the week and recommended the board approve the plan so staff can meet the deadline.

Board members and advisory representatives asked for clear benchmarks and an accountability cadence; staff said they will provide periodic updates and suggested readoption or revisions after the first implementation cycle (proposed milestone in December). The plan includes metrics for participation and progress and commits the district to a continuous improvement cycle with regular reporting to the board.

After discussion and public comment emphasizing literacy program evidence, the board approved the ELO plan by roll‑call vote.

Next steps: SFUSD will submit the approved ELO plan to the state, begin summer 2021 programming, and return to the board with progress updates and performance measures on a recurring cadence (staff suggested bimonthly updates and a more formal revision by December).