California is expected to eventually require one semester of ethnic studies in high school. SFUSD is choosing to mandate a full year for all ninth graders, taking up an entire elective slot at a time when the district is dealing with deep budget cuts and weak academic outcomes.

Superintendent Su will roll out a state-aligned off-the-shelf ethnic studies course for the 2025–26 school year while launching an audit and tightening oversight on supplemental materials.