San Francisco teachers found without active credentials

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) officials revealed that approximately 350 teachers lack active teaching credentials, a situation attributed to ongoing issues with the payroll system EMPowerSF, implemented in 2022. This system has faced numerous problems, including inaccurate paychecks for teachers and district employees. In response, SFUSD is transitioning to a new system and has reviewed over 7,000 credentials from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Letters have been sent to teachers regarding their credential status, emphasizing the district's commitment to compliance. Superintendent Matt Wayne stated that uncredentialed teachers cannot remain in classrooms, and the district is working to assist employees in obtaining necessary credentials or permits. The district has a sufficient number of substitutes to cover affected classes. This credential issue is part of broader systemic operational challenges that SFUSD has faced for years, which were highlighted in a civil grand jury report last year. The report pointed out that low starting salaries and payroll system issues hinder recruitment and retention of credentialed teachers. Additionally, the report noted a lack of responsiveness from district administrators during the investigation. In light of these challenges, Mayor London Breed announced a School Stabilization Team to address the district's issues, which is also considering school closures due to a significant drop in student enrollment since the 2017-18 school year. The team will utilize $8.4 million in unallocated funds to support the district's efforts.