After contract negotiations failed to reach an agreement over the weekend, San Francisco public school teachers are getting ready to walk out Monday morning in what is set to be the city’s first teacher strike in nearly half a century.
Across San Francisco, many families depend on schools for support beyond education, including access to meals and child care. With schools set to close Monday, the city and community organizations are offering alternative support for families, though capacity is limited.
Below is a guide to free meals, child care and daytime programs.
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Where can students get free meals during the strike?
On Monday and Tuesday, San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth and their families (DCYF) will provide to-go meals to SFUSD students ages 18 and under at locations across the city. Meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and each site has a limited supply. To receive a meal, children or their guardian must provide the student’s name, grade and school. The updated list of free meal sites and their distribution times are available here.
Some nonprofits are offering additional food support for families. On Monday, the Latino Task Force (LTF) will provide lunch and breakfast for SFUSD students who rely on district-provided meals at two locations:
- Mission Food Hub | 701 Alabama Street
- Casa de Apoyo | 4834 Mission Street.
To get meals, children or their caregiver need to provide their name, grade and school. Caregivers are allowed a maximum of three to four grab–and-go meals.
Breakfast will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at both sites. Meal distribution is set to continue if the strike goes on for more days, said Efrain Barrera, LTF interim executive director.
Are child care options available?
Children under 5 who are enrolled in SFUSD Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs or preschool may be eligible for temporary child care through San Francisco’s Department of Early Childhood (DEC). Parents can request referrals Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, through:
- Children’s Council at 445 Church Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
- Contact: 415-343-3300 | rr@childrenscouncil.org
- Wu Yee Children’s Services at 888 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
- Contact: 1-844-644-4300 | wuyee.org/
Are there places children can go during the school day?
The district is partnering with 15 community and faith-based organizations to offer daytime activities and supervision for SFUSD students during regular school hours. Because space is limited, parents should contact organizations directly to ask about availability. Among the offered activities are:
- Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation | 225 Eddy Street
- Open to elementary through high school students, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Offering both general programs and specialized enrichment
- Youth Art Exchange | 1950 Mission Street and 400 Geneva Ave
- Open to elementary through high school students, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Offering arts-based specialized enrichment programs
- Ingleside Community Center | 1345 Ocean Avenue
- Open to pre-K through elementary students, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Offers general programs and enrichment programs, as well as free lunch.
The full list of programs is available here.
What about after-school programs?
SFUSD has said that students enrolled in ExCEL after-school programs, including enrichment, homework support, recreation and meals, may attend programs at other locations during the strike.
Due to staffing limits, space is limited. Priority will be given to students who qualify for food assistance, are unhoused or are English learners.
SFUSD has compiled a list of off-site locations on a Google Doc, including contact information and program websites. Students may attend any listed location.
What is happening with the strike?
Picket lines are expected to form outside schools 30 minutes before the first scheduled bell Monday morning. A community rally is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Civic Center, according to the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF).
Meanwhile, negotiations between SFUSD and UESF are expected to continue Monday afternoon. Union leaders have indicated that without a signed agreement, the strike will continue.
Already, UESF President Cassondra Curiel said the union has reached an agreement with the district on its demand to protect sanctuary schools for immigrant students, following negotiations held over the weekend. But union leaders say the district has not adequately addressed their demands over health care, salary and special education.
The city has confirmed resources through Tuesday, but officials have indicated they may extend food distribution and other services if the strike continues.