What We’re Working On

🚨 SFUSD will announce the school’s launch site in September 2026! 🚨

Thanks to our advocacy, the district has updated their MI TK-8 launch timeline. The temporary location for the 2027-2028 school year will be announced in Sep 2026, and the permanent location for 2028-2029 onwards will be announced in Spring 2027.

This is a huge win for us — it means the school can open next year, despite the short timeline. Plus, we and the broader SFUSD community can participate in deciding the permanent location.

Thank you for the public comments (shoutout to Phil!), emails (Wei-Ann!), and everyone else who has contributed to this effort. Amazing to see the district respond in less than a week!

Find the full timeline below, and more details on the district’s MI TK-8 webpage.

Also, join the conversation at our new WhatsApp Group!

See you there,
Abby & Justin

Just in: The District is delaying choosing a MI TK-8 location until Spring 2027.

This means families would need to sign up – and maybe even accept a spot – before knowing where the school is. That’s a real problem.

Speak up at tonight’s Board meeting, if you can. Details below. We’ll be there.

If you can’t make it, email the Board and Superintendent, emails below.

---

Here’s what we know so far, based on what was shared in the Board Q&A (p2) ahead of tonight’s meeting:

---

Here are the details for tonight:

• For in-person comment, show up early (~6:15pm, 555 Franklin St) to get a comment card
• Zoom comments are also allowed, time permitting
• Public comment goes until ~8pm
• Actual discussion will probably be much later
• Click here for the Zoom link
• Note: MI TK-8 isn’t a dedicated agenda item like last time, but it’s a “major decision” — we’re hopeful it will be discussed

If you can’t make the meeting, you can email the Superintendent & Board instead:
mariasu@sfusd.edu, supryiaray@sfusd.edu, philkim@sfusd.edu, jaimehuling@sfusd.edu, mattalexander@sfusd.edu, alidafisher@sfusd.edu, paraggupta@sfusd.edu, lisaweissman-ward@sfusd.edu

Lastly, HUGE shoutout to all those who supported at the Board meeting on June 9: Jia, Joyce, Nick, Junius, Laurence, and many others who showed up and supported this cause. We have the clarity of a timeline because you all advocated for it!

Gratefully,
Abby & Justin

P.S. For quicker updates, join our new WhatsApp Group!

Hi everyone, we learned new details about the MI TK-8 plans, or lack thereof, and we’re concerned. Full details below.

Please come tomorrow in-person and give public comment. Only 15 people are coming in-person, so your presence matters. This is the only scheduled Board discussion on the topic before the vote in Aug/Sep, which is only 2 months away.

RSVP for the June 9 Board Meeting on Partiful →

Not sure what to say? Here are some ideas:

• Why this school matters to your family
• The district made a commitment. Now they need to make it happen, on-time
• This school would attract families and grow the district
• We need concrete plans: location, scheduled vote, community engagement at proposed sites

See you tomorrow,
Abby & Justin

---

Here is the draft presentation and the full Q&A (see section H starting on page 9).

Below is a summary of the SFUSD Board’s questions that were submitted and answered by SFUSD staff in preparation for the Board meeting:

19 possible sites, 0 sites announced. Location is still undecided. 19 sites could physically house the smaller launch, but staff are still narrowing the list. The district says temporary or permanent school site facilities are still on the table. Importantly, the district also acknowledges that multiple existing school sites could accommodate a full 9-classroom launch (3 classrooms each for TK, K and 1st).

Our take: The fact that viable sites exist is encouraging. We believe SFUSD should be transparent now about which sites are under consideration, so impacted communities have adequate time to engage — not two weeks before a vote.

---

Community engagement is promised — but the clock is ticking. Staff say they’ll engage impacted school communities before finalizing a site. Only 2 months remain to pick a site and engage those communities, yet no sites under consideration have been made public.

Our take: Meaningful community engagement takes time. Announcing sites with weeks to spare — rather than months — is not a real process. We should urge SFUSD to accelerate site disclosure so families, neighbors, and school communities can participate in good faith.

---

Teacher pipeline is a strength, not a constraint. 26 credentialed Mandarin employees district-wide and 21 new applicants for the 2026–27 school year is a robust number relative to a 4-classroom launch. A credentialing pathway through SF State exists, and para-to-teacher and residency programs are “being considered” — but the near-term pipeline appears healthy enough to support a larger launch than planned.

Our take: This is genuinely good news. We’re encouraged by the district’s investment in Mandarin educator pathways and believe this pipeline is an argument for expanding, not limiting, the launch. However, this data undermines previous statements from the district that the teacher pipeline was a main contributor to a reduced launch size.

---

The launch size shrank — but there are plenty of locations and teachers. Earlier discussions included 9 classrooms (3 TK + 3K + 3 first grade); the current plan is just 1 TK + 3K (86 students). At scale, the school will have 1–2 TK classrooms. The district cited facilities and teacher pipeline as constraints (and a desire to keep K spots available to attract new families to the district). However, SFUSD staff answers indicate a robust teacher pipeline and multiple school sites that could accommodate the original launch size.

Our take: The cited constraints don’t hold up to scrutiny after reviewing the new data unearthed by Board questions. A larger launch serves more families and builds a healthier, more stable school from day one. We should continue pushing for the district to reconsider launch size in light of the evidence.

---

The vote is in 2 months. Nobody knows what’s being voted on. Staff acknowledged the vote happens “August/September, if any,” but couldn’t specify what exactly will be voted on because too many upstream decisions — site, co-location vs. standalone — remain unresolved.

Our take: We need a clear timeline and clarity on what is actually required to open this school. SFUSD families and school board were recently blindsided by the district delaying the school reorganization initiative by 3 years, and we need a clear timeline to believe that this school will actually happen.

Thank you for an incredible town hall. Last week, over 200 families joined us at Ulloa and on Zoom. SFUSD reaffirmed a 2027 opening and announced an official MI TK–8 webpage and email list. SF Standard and Sing Tao covered the event. Plus, 9 of 11 SF Supervisors are supporters.

Momentum is building. Let’s keep it up.

Next up: June 9 School Board meeting

On June 9, the district will give the Board an update on MI TK-8 facilities, staffing, and programming. This is not a vote, but it is the only scheduled discussion on this school before the formal vote in Aug/Sep.

This is your chance to be heard by the Board, right before they give the district feedback on the plan. Show your support, and advocate for what matters to your family — starting grade levels, number of seats, location, or anything on your mind.

RSVP on Partiful →

Here’s where things stand now:

• Current plan remains 1 TK and 3 K classes (88 seats), instead of the originally proposed 198 seats with 3 classes across TK, K, and 1st grade. There are real constraints such as building capacity limits, teacher hiring, and operational complexity — and we’ll keep making the case to overcome them.
• Location is still TBD. The district is working hard on this. There’s no empty building in the district’s portfolio that could house a new school without some impact to an existing community. The list of potential sites is narrowing, and we expect a clearer timeline on June 9.
• The teacher pipeline is where you can help. If you know someone who might want to teach at this school — credentialed or not — reach out. We can help guide them to the right people and pathways. Here’s the job posting.

Watch the town hall recording: Zoom Recording

Timeline at a glance:

• June 9, 2026 — SFUSD Board update (facilities, staffing, programming)
• Aug/Sep 2026 — Board vote to formally approve the school
• October 2026 — School presented at enrollment fair
• Feb/Mar 2027 — Teacher hiring begins
• August 2027 — Doors open

More detailed notes below.

Abby & Justin
Friends of the SF Mandarin School

---

Here’s more on what happened since our last update.

Supporters. In addition to all 7 Board members, our supporters list now includes 9 of 11 Supervisors: Rafael Mandelman (D8, Board President) · Connie Chan (D1) · Stephen Sherrill (D2) · Danny Sauter (D3) · Alan Wong (D4) · Bilal Mahmood (D5) · Matt Dorsey (D6) · Myrna Melgar (D7) · Chyanne Chen (D11)

The language model. Principal Szeto shared her recommended program design, built on decades of experience: TK at 90–100% Mandarin; K–3 at 80% Mandarin / 20% English; grades 4–5 at 50/50 (morning/afternoon split); middle school at roughly 2 periods Mandarin and 4 periods English. Subjects taught in Mandarin would include language arts, math in the lower grades, and some science units. The goal is fully bilingual graduates.

Teacher pathways. The district is actively mapping what it will take to recruit and credential Mandarin immersion teachers. A few paths on the table:

• Already a credentialed teacher? You can attend SF State for free to earn the BCLAD (Mandarin bilingual teaching credential).
• The district is exploring reopening a para-to-teacher pathway, which could allow SFUSD paraprofessionals to move toward a credential faster.
• Coming from outside the SFUSD system without a credential? The path is longer — but the district is looking at residency models and other accelerators.

If you or someone you know might be on one of these paths, reach out.

Enrollment and the lottery. A question came up about how seats would be split between Mandarin-speaking and English-speaking students. Principal Szeto’s recommendation is two-thirds English-only and one-third Mandarin-speaking (native Mandarin speakers and bilingual families combined). That said, Commissioner Supryia Ray noted this question is somewhat premature — the entire SFUSD enrollment and lottery system is under review, with a superintendent recommendation expected in April 2027.

Other MI programs in the district. SFUSD already has Mandarin immersion strands at Starr King and Jose Ortega. Families raised the question of how the new school connects to those programs — especially for middle school pathways. The district acknowledged this is part of the broader work ahead.

Friends,

The district may cut our school enrollment in half.

We need YOU to show up on Wednesday. In-person. They need to see the families that want this school. Bring your kids. Bring a friend.

Only two weeks ago, the district said they intended to launch with 9 classrooms, 198 seats with three classrooms across TK, K, and 1st grade.

Now, SFUSD is considering dropping two TK classes and cutting 1st grade entirely. Launching with only 4 classrooms, 88 seats. Less than half the original vision. That’s what we heard at Asian PAC this week.

We haven’t heard a compelling reason for this change. The demand is there. Our data shows overwhelming demand across all three opening grades — and demand at upper grade levels too.

It’s not a final decision yet. Wednesday is our ONE chance to make our voices heard before everyone leaves for the summer.

Let’s make this school happen — at scale.

RSVP for in-person or virtual →

And extra credit: please sign up HERE to help with this event! We’re just two working parents with 3 kids under 3, so we can’t do it alone.

See you on May 13.

Abby & Justin
Friends of the SF Mandarin School

Please join us for a town hall with SFUSD on Wednesday, May 13 at Ulloa Elementary. They have graciously agreed to share the latest on the Mandarin Immersion TK–8 school and answer your questions directly.

Come in-person if you can. A packed room sends a message. Let’s show SFUSD the size and energy of this community. Of course, we’ll also have a virtual option — we’re all busy parents!

RSVP for in-person or virtual →

A few details: Doors open at 6pm, talk starts at 6:30pm. Kids welcome, pizza and water provided. Please submit questions in advance.

If you want to help more:

• Tell a friend. Share this with parents in your daycare, preschool, or neighborhood group.
• Volunteer. We’ll need help with set up, tear down, and managing Zoom. Hit reply if you can help.
• Know a journalist? We’d love local press coverage. Reply if you have a media contact.

A quick update: SFUSD announced last night that it is delaying timelines for school reorganization and assignment. It seems that Mandarin immersion has not been delayed, but our September deadline for a Board vote is quickly approaching and we are still missing key details like location and budget.

Let’s make sure the district stays on track to launch in 2027 as promised.

See you on May 13.

Big week. Here’s what happened, and what’s coming next.

The whole school board is with us.

We’ve now spoken with every member of the SFUSD Board of Education, and all seven have agreed to be listed as supporters on our website. That’s unanimous board backing for the Mandarin Immersion K–8 school. And we’re just getting started — our supporters list will grow with more community leaders over time.

The commitment is real — and your responses helped.

During our monthly meeting on Apr 21, the district reaffirmed its commitment to open in Fall 2027, starting with TK, K, and 1st grade and 3 classrooms per grade for 198 seats in the first year. We also learned that the district is considering both a temporary co-location and a permanent wall-to-wall site as options, so everything is on the table. The long-term vision remains a dedicated, independent Mandarin Immersion school.

Your responses are part of why. Over 700 families, representing more than 1,000 students, expressed interest through our website. The data shows overwhelming demand for full enrollment across all three opening grades.

Liana Szeto, founding principal of Alice Fong Yu and district lead on the MI K–8 effort, is working on a program description. She and Hong Mei Pang, SFUSD’s Head of Communications & Governance, will also present to the Asian Parent Advisory Committee on May 6, 6–8pm at Ulloa Library.

However, there’s still a lot we don’t know. The district plans to bring a Board vote in August or September, but they have not shared what needs to be done, by when, to make that vote successful. We don’t yet know the location — by far the #1 question from families. And given the late timing, right before October’s enrollment fair, there’s no room for error.

A town hall is coming in May.

We pushed the district for more transparency on the path to launch, and they responded. Hong Mei Pang and Liana Szeto have committed to a community town hall this month (in-person and virtual) to share progress and answer your questions directly. Commissioner Supryia Ray will also be there. We’ve invited Superintendent Dr. Maria Su and we expect to hear from her on Monday.

Date, time, and location are being confirmed — details coming very soon. It is critical that our community shows up in huge numbers. We’ve also asked the district to publicize it on their official channels.

You can help us make it a success.

Reach out if you can help with:

• A venue — ideally accessible, free or low-cost, and large enough for a crowd
• Event logistics — we want to run this as a hybrid in-person/virtual event and could use some expertise
• Food and drinks — donations of refreshments welcome
• Media contacts — connections to local press or community media who should cover this

Also: the district is building a teacher pipeline. We expect the school will need 12 teachers in the first year. If you know qualified Mandarin-credentialed teachers, curriculum folks, or school leaders, please reach out. Here’s the official teacher job description.

As a community, we will make this school happen.

There’s been tremendous excitement — 700+ families, representing over 1,000 kids, have signed up to support a new Mandarin Immersion K–8 school in SFUSD, and the list is growing every day.

Our next meeting is this Tuesday, April 21, and we’ll share our demand data with SFUSD to inform their decisions on size and location of this school. We’ll send you an update afterwards, and after each of our monthly meetings.

If you haven’t already, please share our effort with a parent group — a WhatsApp group, daycare chat, or Facebook group. More families means a stronger case for more seats. Here’s a message you can copy and paste:

Are you interested in Mandarin immersion?

SFUSD is launching a new Mandarin Immersion K–8 school next year! We’re a group of parents helping the district gather interest to inform its future size and location. Over 700 families have already signed up to support it. Add your name — it takes 2 minutes:
https://www.sfmandarinschool.org

One more thing: hit reply and tell us — what questions do you have for SFUSD? We’ll share a summary of community questions during our meeting, and it will help guide future district communications.

We held our first meeting with SFUSD leadership on March 10 in the Superintendent’s conference room — and the energy in the room was real.

In attendance were Liana Szeto, Alice Fong Yu’s founding principal and the leader of this effort; Hong Mei Pang, SFUSD’s Head of Communications & Governance; School Board Commissioner Supryia Ray; and School Board President Phil Kim.

We aligned on three areas of focus:

• Parent engagement & demand data. The district needs to see strong interest — especially from young families who would be future SFUSD families. This data will directly inform the school’s size and location.
• Teacher recruitment. Mandarin-credentialed teachers are the biggest staffing challenge. The district is working on detailed job requirements so we can help recruit qualified candidates.
• Fundraising. SFUSD will be the primary funding source, but supplementary fundraising — especially for startup costs — will help ensure the school launches on time regardless of other budget pressures.

Key decisions and timeline:

The School Board must approve the new school at its second meeting in September 2026, so that the school can be presented at the enrollment fair in October and families can receive information in time to apply.

The initial plan is for the school to be co-located with an underenrolled school, with the possibility of moving to a more permanent site as the school grows. The initial idea is to start with earlier grades (e.g., TK, K, and 1st grade), and ideally, demand will support three classrooms per grade, which is the size needed to sustain a full K–8 program over time. The interest data we’re collecting will help determine that.

What the district owes us:

• Detailed job requirement documents for Mandarin-credentialed teaching positions, so we can begin recruiting
• A broader update about the district's progress on this school, so we can share with parents

What we’re working on:

• Launched sfmandarinschool.org with an interest form and mailing list to capture demand data
• Promoting the interest form — printing flyers, sharing across parent groups, school communities, and neighborhood networks
• Setting up fiscal sponsorship so we can accept donations and begin more formal fundraising

Our next meeting with district leadership is April 21. We want to walk in with overwhelming demand data. If you haven’t already, fill out the interest form — it takes two minutes and every submission counts.