San Francisco’s dramatic about face on offering algebra in the eighth grade was not serendipity.
It was the result of outrage in the parent community. And the quick thoughtful response by Superintendent Maria Su.
Here is what happened.
In March, the San Francisco school district announced with much fanfare it would bring back algebra to the eighth grade. Cheers, shrieks of joy, a mariachi band dancing through the streets. Not even close.
Parents read the fine print and were pissed. Instead of respecting the will of the people and offering algebra instead of eighth-grade math for qualified students, SFUSD took a different route.
The school district proposal: Backed by extensive Stanford research, high achieving students would have to take both eighth-grade math and algebra in the eighth grade.
Here is the visual of how the math sequence would work:
Way to go!
Yes. Technically, it was offering algebra in the eighth grade. But it tied the proposal into such a convoluted process that parents immediately started an opposition campaign.
Instead of allowing qualified eighth graders to take algebra instead of eighth-grade math, the proposal required students to take two math classes in grade eight — exactly what the community voted against in 2024.
And there was troubling uncertainty as to whether students who wanted to take language classes or the arts as an elective would have that choice.
The San Francisco district PTA and SF Parents started extensive outreach, urging parents to share their thoughts with the school district. Activist groups throughout the city chimed in.
(In 2014, in the name of equity, SFUSD stopped requiring algebra for all in the eighth grade. A decade later, the community voted to offer algebra in the eighth grade for qualified students. The March 2026 proposal was the district’s formal response.)
Drum roll please. San Francisco Superintendent Maria Su reacted sensibly and carefully to heed the will of the community and adjusted the policy to reflect parent concerns.
On March 24, the school board voted 4 to 3 to bring algebra back and let qualified eighth graders take this course without doubling up on math.
Here is how it works.
– At most middle and K–8 schools, Algebra I will be offered as Expanded Math, where eligible students will be automatically enrolled in both Math 8 and Algebra I. Students who do not meet the criteria for automatic enrollment can choose to take Algebra I as an elective.
– Families can request to opt out of Math 8 and take Algebra I as their sole math class, if they meet additional academic eligibility criteria. This requires a meeting with the school counselor and formal written consent from parents or guardians.
– SFUSD will pilot Braided Compression at two schools (Alice Fong Yu K-8 School and Hoover Middle School), where students take an accelerated pathway covering Math 6–8 and Algebra I over three years. All students at compression school sites will be enrolled in a compression math course in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.
The four board members supporting the proposal heard the message loud and clear. Equity includes being equitable to everyone, including students who are ready for more challenging math courses. The others: No so much.
