(a) In November 2016, San Francisco voters approved Proposition N, a Charter amendment, adding Charter Section 13.111, to allow non-United States citizens (“noncitizens”) who meet certain criteria, to vote for members of the San Francisco Board of Education (“School Board”) in the City’s November 2018, November 2020, and November 2022 elections. This right was extended to all noncitizen residents of San Francisco who were of legal voting age and the parents, legal guardians, and caregivers (collectively, “parents”) of a child under age 19 living within the boundaries of the San Francisco Unified School District (“School District”). Section 13.111 states that it will expire on December 31, 2022, unless the Board of Supervisors determines thereafter by ordinance that the right of noncitizens to vote in School Board elections will continue beyond that date.
(b) Noncitizen parents contribute greatly to the School District. They volunteer at schools, serve on school site councils, host School Board forums, attend and participate as members of the public in School Board meetings, share ideas for improving the School District’s family communications plan, provide crucial input on budget matters, and educate fellow parents about their right to be involved in their children’s education. Realizing the vital contributions that noncitizen parents make to the School District, San Francisco voters passed Proposition N to provide them with a greater voice in School District policies by permitting them to vote in School Board elections.
(c) Extensive research demonstrates how parent involvement in their children’s education is critical for students’ lifelong achievements and success. These research studies are on file with the Clerk of the Board in File No. 210961. These studies demonstrate that students whose parents are involved in their schooling are more likely to attend school regularly, have better social emotional skills, and obtain higher grades. To encourage such involvement, Proposition N ensured that noncitizen parents have a role in selecting the officials who set the School District policies that impact their children’s education.
(d) Eligible noncitizen parents exercised their right to participate in the School Board elections held between 2018 - 2020. Between May 2018 to July 2021, community-based outreach efforts about the opportunity for eligible noncitizens to vote in School Board elections reached 13,272 people. Reports regarding these outreach efforts are on file with the Clerk of the Board in File No. 210961.
(e) Continuation of noncitizen voting in School Board elections is necessary to allow many unheard voices to come forward. Though the number of noncitizen parents in the School District is currently unknown, as of the 2020-2021 school year, there were over 13,682 English Language Learners in the School District. These students spoke a variety of languages including, but not limited to, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Filipino, and Vietnamese. The California Department of Education’s statistics on English Language Learners in the School District are on file with the Clerk of the Board in File No. 210961.
(f) It is in the public interest for the City to exercise its option under Charter Section 13.111(a)(2) to extend the right of noncitizen parents to vote in School Board elections beyond December 31, 2022.
(g) In order to realize the full civic engagement of noncitizen parents in School District affairs by voting, additional resources for outreach, engagement, and education, as well as improved coordination between key stakeholders such as the School District, City departments, and community-based groups would ensure eligible noncitizen parents are aware of their right to vote in School Board elections. Additionally, culturally-adequate outreach in the primary languages of San Francisco families is crucial to equip parents with the information necessary to decide whether to exercise these voting rights. The City encourages the School District and the Department of Elections to continue devoting adequate resources for such outreach and related efforts.
(Added by Ord. 206-21, File No. 210961, App. 11/12/2021, Eff. 12/13/2021, Oper. 1/1/2023)