News Briefs | FYI
March 24, 2025
SFUSD sues AmeriCorps for demnds to drop DEI activities
The San Francisco Unified School District has filed a lawsuit against AmeriCorps for conditioning program funding on compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive orders prohibiting DEI activities.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency known for funding volunteer service programs to help disadvantaged communities, sent a demand letter to grant recipients on Feb. 13, stating that all funding would be revoked unless grantees implemented President Trump’s anti-equity, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-environmental policy preferences in their programs.
The district relies on $667,194 in grant funding and dozens of mentors from AmeriCorps who provide daily services to San Francisco’s most vulnerable students.
“SFUSD will remain steadfast and laser-focused in our work of educating students,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Su, in a news release. “We are grateful to the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office for their pro bono representation of SFUSD in this matter. As we grapple with a set of dire financial challenges, this partnership enables us to preserve precious resources and sustain vital programs that benefit SFUSD students furthest from access.”
The city of Santa Fe joined SFUSD in filing the lawsuit. The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is representing SFUSD in the lawsuit.
“President Trump cannot hold our schools and our kids hostage to force people to agree with him,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. “As Congress intended, AmeriCorps funding has provided our students with critical support they need to overcome challenges and succeed.”
AmeriCorps is a federal agency that supports a variety of public-private partnerships to address local challenges through “voluntary citizen service” members, who are typically adults between 18 and 24 years old. AmeriCorps awards grants to fund activities “designed to help the poor, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, and the elderly.”
SFUSD has applied for and received AmeriCorps grant funds for approximately the last 10 years to operate Healthy Choices AmeriCorps. The Healthy Choices program provides mentoring services to vulnerable students across 38 SFUSD schools and employs 17 full-time members and around 20 part-time members.
The Healthy Choices program pairs vulnerable SFUSD students with caring, supportive mentors, supplementing students’ learning inside the classroom. Part-time members who are master’s students in mental health and social work degree programs provide additional counseling services to students who need more targeted interventions. AmeriCorps members also provide services that are available to all students at a given school, such as facilitating lunch-time activities and clubs. Healthy Choices enables SFUSD to combat chronic absenteeism and promote academic success and student belonging across its diverse student body.
If the AmeriCorps demand letter is found lawful, SFUSD would likely have to disband their “Rainbow” or Genders/Sexualities Alliance clubs, as AmeriCorps members provide primary support for those student groups. SFUSD has also had to begin altering its training for AmeriCorps members, who have previously been trained on implicit bias and using students’ preferred pronouns and chosen names.
The lawsuit alleges that the AmeriCorps demand letter violates the Constitution’s Spending Clause and the Administrative Procedures Act. Plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief to prevent the letter from being enforced and a declaration from the court stating that it is unconstitutional and invalid, was issued after the operative grant agreement date, and that Trump’s executive orders do not impose obligations on AmeriCorps grantees.
Report highlights ‘supervision gap’ in youth media use
Forty percent of children have their own tablet by age 2 according to the latest research on the digital media habits of young children in the U.S.
On Feb. 26, Common Sense Media released its report “The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight,” which finds that 40 percent of children have a tablet by age 2, and their screen time remains steady at about 2.5 hours per day; however, there has been a shift in how screen time is being used. Gaming time has surged 65 percent since 2020, and traditional TV viewing has declined, while short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts are on the rise, underscoring the increasingly complex media environment that parents must navigate in their children’s early years.
Key findings from the report include:
- By age 4, more than half (58 percent) of children have their own tablet.
- By age 8, one in four children have their own cellphone.
- Overall, 51 percent of children age 8 and younger have their own mobile device.
- About one in five children use mobile devices for emotional regulation, mealtimes or to fall asleep.
- Parent supervision varies significantly by platform, with 62 percent of parents watching YouTube occasionally alongside their children, but only 17 percent co-viewing TikTok content.
- AI is making inroads into early childhood, with nearly one-third of parents reporting their child has used AI for school-related learning.
- Children from lower-income households are spending nearly twice as much time with screens compared to those from higher-income households (3:48 vs. 1:52 minutes daily).
The research also highlights a concerning supervision gap in how parents monitor different platforms, and how their concerns about screen media affect viewing habits. Fewer parents are co-watching short-form video content, despite its rapid-fire and algorithm-driven nature. And while three-quarters of parents express concerns about screen media, including excessive use and effects on mental health, many also recognize potential benefits, with 75 percent excited about their children learning new things through digital media.
“Our youngest children are on the front lines of an unprecedented digital transformation,” said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, in a news release. “From AI to immersive gaming, they’re experiencing technologies that didn’t exist even a few years ago. It’s a lot to manage as a new parent, which is why we’re focused on giving families and educators the tools they need to harness the benefits of innovation while building healthy digital habits from the start.”
For 20 years, Common Sense Media has provided information and resources to help families navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. The organization emphasizes the importance of quality content, co-viewing, and maintaining a healthy balance between screen time and other activities.
For the complete report and additional resources for families and educators, visit www.commonsensemedia.org/2025census.
FYI
ACSA ethnic studies workshops start April 3
ACSA is hosting a new workshop series, “Ethnic Studies Implementation: A Comprehensive Approach to AB 101,” which will include an exploration of diverse teaching resources, pedagogical techniques and best practices for fostering a classroom environment that encourages critical thinking, empathy and an understanding of the importance of representation in education. This free, four-part virtual learning opportunity will be held from 1-4 p.m. April 3, 10, 17 and 24. To sign up, visit onlinelearning.acsa.org/courses/ethnic-studies-implementation-a-comprehensive-approach-to-ab-101.
Tell future leaders about ACSA Leadership Institute
Know someone who’s ready to lead? Let them know ACSA is now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 cohort of Leadership Institute, ACSA’s Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program, which is offered in partnership with Sacramento County Office of Education. Aspiring leaders who are interested can attend an online information session to learn more. The next information session will be held online from 4-5 p.m. April 2. To register, visit bit.ly/3DmadUf.
CDPH seeking youth for mental health advisory
The California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity is currently recruiting passionate and diverse California youth between 14 and 25 years old to help reimagine mental health services as members of the Youth Co-Lab, a groundbreaking advisory group focused on youth mental health. Applications are accepted year-round. Register today for the CDPH Youth-Co Lab via the KAI Partners web page, kaipartners.com/child-youth-co-lab-page.
CDE seeks educators for AI workgroup
Individuals passionate about education and technology are encouraged to join an exciting and critically important initiative that will shape the future of artificial intelligence in California’s educational system. In response to Senate Bill 1288, the CDE is convening an AI in Education Workgroup to support safe, effective and equitable use of AI in schools across the state. This workgroup will bring together diverse voices, including pupils, teachers, administrators, classified staff, industry experts and higher education representatives to develop guidance and a model policy that prioritizes the well-being of pupils and educators. Topics will include data privacy, academic integrity and strategies to harness AI’s potential without replacing the essential role of educators or exacerbating inequities. Members will participate in three virtual full-day meetings and collaborate asynchronously to develop comprehensive recommendations and policies. Sign up today via Google Forms at tinyurl.com/CAAIWorkgroup. Applications close on Friday, April 11, at 11:59 p.m.