We, the parents of children who go to public school in San Francisco, understand completely what the budget cuts of the last few years have meant to the quality of education in our schools. We have been the willing patsies of state politicians who wish to find funds and have been taking it hand over fist from education. We are tired of empty words. We want our school system to be given more money. We don't want any more cuts at our local school sites. Words alone don't seem to be getting the message across. We don't want to hear that ‘although our budgets are cut, the scores keep going up’. We need to send a message loud and clear to all government officials. Code Red! Our educational system is on life support. We need more money now.

This is the message that will be understood,

Let every parent who has a child that scored proficient or above on the California Star Test, send a note in to their local school, opting their child out of this year's Star Test.

Here’s the logic behind the message,

Parents need leverage. We are not invited to the meetings that decide what is cut and our local schools receive directives from the school district advising of the cuts to be made. We need a device that will command the attention of both school district officials and city government officials. We have few tools at our disposal, but we do have the power to control if our children get tested.  We need to opt out of the Star test. If we withhold our high scorers from taking the Star test, our district scores will tank. This will cause Federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) triggers and possibly cause state sanctions. The threat of opting out will make our elected officials understand that education cuts need to stop. It is not an option.

The cuts to local school sites in the past have been too deep, these new cuts move our school system into disaster mode. We must pressure our city, our school district, and our local elected officials to make our children “The Number One Priority of our city”.  Forward-thinking elected city-officials can see that their legacy and their political future is tied to finding the money now to save our schools.  As parents we understand that the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor may require the school district to make significant cuts to the school district administrative expenses as a condition, and parents will support that.

$30 million of current school district expense has been identified as monies that could be paid by the city for the school district, thus freeing up $30 million for the district to leave local site school budgets at last year’s levels. It is a time for leadership at city hall.

Click on the link to download an opt-out form. Turn the form into the office of your child’s school. If the city funds our schools you may change your mind and allow your child to be tested.