This legislation creates an initiative to improve services for children, youth, and families by coordinating efforts between city departments and the school district, using measurable outcomes to evaluate spending. It also establishes requirements for budget proposals, reporting, and funding conditions for the school district to ensure accountability and alignment with city goals.
Charter Amendment (Second Draft) to amend the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco to 1) create an Our Children, Our Families Initiative (“Initiative”) to coordinate efforts by City departments and the San Francisco Unified School District (“School District”) to deliver outcomes-based services for children, youth, and families; 2) require the Initiative to use an objective and measurable outcomes framework (“Outcomes Framework”) to evaluate the budget and spending of each City department with expenditures that are eligible to be included in the Children and Youth Fund baseline, the Public Education Enrichment Fund (“PEEF”), the PEEF baseline, or any discretionary funding allocated from the General Fund for children, youth, and families; 3) require the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to consider the Initiative’s findings during their consideration of the City budget each year, including by the Board of Supervisors holding a public hearing and adopting findings about the expenditures; 4) require the School District to submit a proposal once every five years describing how it will spend the City’s general fund contribution to the PEEF consistent with the San Francisco Children and Families Plan and the Outcomes Framework, and prohibit the City from providing PEEF funding to the School District until the Board of Supervisors and Mayor have approved the School District’s proposal; 5) require the School District to submit annual reports describing how it has spent the City’s general fund contribution and the PEEF funding for arts, music, sports, and library programs; 6) authorize the Board of Supervisors and Mayor to place PEEF funding to the School District on reserve if the School District’s expenditures are inconsistent with the Charter, the Outcomes Framework, or the School District’s spending plan or its internal guidelines regarding student educational outcomes; 7) provide that money set aside for the School District in the Student Success Fund cannot replace, supplant, count as, or substitute for other City funding for the School District or children and youth required under the Children and Youth Fund, the PEEF, or other provisions in the Charter; and 8) prohibit the City from providing discretionary funds to the School District unless it has entered into a data-sharing agreement with the City; at an election to be held on November 5, 2024.
How it got here
The legislation originated from a need to enhance accountability and coordination in funding services for children and youth in San Francisco.
The Board of Supervisors introduced a Charter Amendment (File No. 240545) to create an Our Children, Our Families Initiative aimed at improving funding accountability for children and youth services.
The Department of Human Resources was referred the Charter Amendment to assess any required 'Meet and Confer' obligations related to the proposed changes.
The Planning Department received the Charter Amendment for CEQA review, determining it would not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
The Rules Committee amended the Charter Amendment to refine its provisions and clarify the roles of the Our Children, Our Families Initiative and the School District.
The finalized Charter Amendment was transmitted to the Department of Elections for inclusion on the ballot for the November 5, 2024 election.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record
