Taylor Barton
taybarton.bsky.social
Taylor Barton
@taybarton.bsky.social
Staff writer and reporter at The Frisc covering education & public health.

Find me at www.taybarton.com

Views my own.
Reposted by Taylor Barton
📚 ICYMI, ETHNIC STUDIES STUDY: This summer, SFUSD rushed to find a new curriculum after its own ethnic studies course caused uproar. Now the district has pushed its first review of the pilot. @taybarton.bsky.social reports on how we got here and what's next. thefrisc.com/sfusds-first...
SFUSD’s First Evaluation of Controversial Ethnic Studies Pilot Hits Delay
Following this summer’s scramble to find a new curriculum, the district promised a progress report this month. That’s not going to happen.
thefrisc.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
💻 ICYMI, SPED TECH: “The language of special education itself is like another language,” says one parent who's been testing out a new #AI tool to translate and simplify special ed plans. But as @taybarton.bsky.social reports, SFUSD has privacy concerns. thefrisc.com/this-ai-soft...
This AI Software Translates Special Education Plans for SF Parents
No, it's not ChatGPT. About 200 SF families have been testing the program in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese. SFUSD has yet to invest.
thefrisc.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
✏️ NEW, EVAL BACKTRACK: A few months into its ethnic studies pilot, SFUSD was due to release a report on its progress. Now there's an additional 3-month wait. @taybarton.bsky.social has the scoop on the delay and some of the controversy behind the new curriculum. thefrisc.com/sfusds-first...
SFUSD’s First Evaluation of Controversial Ethnic Studies Pilot Hits 3-Month Delay
Following this summer’s scramble to find a new curriculum, the district promised a progress report this month. That’s not going to happen.
thefrisc.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🤖 NEW, AI FOR SPED? Mandated special ed plans are long and dense, especially difficult for non-English speakers to wade through while they wait weeks for a translation. An AI tool offers a solution, but SFUSD isn't on board. @taybarton.bsky.social reports. thefrisc.com/this-ai-soft...
This AI Software Translates Special Education Plans for SF Parents
No, it's not ChatGPT. About 200 SF families have been testing the program in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese. SFUSD has yet to invest.
thefrisc.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🍎 ICYMI, CHARTER SCHOOL'S IN: Last night SFUSD renewed two Bayview charter schools. One, an elementary school, will cede state control to the district. How did these two charters win while Dragon Gate Academy failed? @taybarton.bsky.social reports. thefrisc.com/sfusd-will-r...
SFUSD Renews Two Bayview Charter Schools With Minimal Fuss
KIPP’s two schools, open since the 2010s, got near-unanimous approvals, despite recent rejection of a different charter school.
thefrisc.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
Chen wants a hearing to ask if SF employees (libraries, public transit etc) have training to deal w/ ICE agents who enter their domains. @taybarton.bsky.social just wrote about this as it pertains to SF schools. There's a difference between having a policy and a plan thefrisc.com/new-californ...
New California Law Puts Anti-ICE Enforcement on Schools. Educators Want More Backup
The burden is on teachers and principals to turn away federal agents. That will require training, resources, and perhaps a lot of legal help.
thefrisc.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🚸 NEW: CHARTER COOL? After dismissing the Dragon Gate Academy proposal, charter schools are back on the SFUSD agenda. Read @taybarton.bsky.social's latest before the Board of Ed decides on the fates of two existing Bayview charter schools at 6:30pm. thefrisc.com/sfusd-will-r...
SFUSD Will Reconsider Two Bayview Charter Schools Tonight
KIPP’s two schools, open since the 2010s, got a positive recommendation. ‘We’re under the assumption both will be renewed.'
thefrisc.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🧪 ICYMI, STEM IN SF: Piper Johnson is spending her high school junior year working on a real-time sensor to test water pollution. As @taybarton.bsky.social reports, with the @bayareascifest.bsky.social this weekend, Johnson's not the only one excited about science.
thefrisc.com/this-local-h...
This Local High Schooler Is Building a Sewage Sensor to Help Swimmers and Surfers
As San Francisco welcomes a big science festival this weekend, one Richmond District high schooler wants to make waves in water safety.
thefrisc.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🔬 NEW, H2O NO: SF high school junior Piper Johnson is making a real-time pollution sensor, inspired by Ocean Beach surfers sickened by sewage runoff. At this wkend's @bayareascifest.bsky.social, local students will present projects... and perhaps inspire the next Piper. thefrisc.com/this-local-h...
This Local High Schooler Is Building a Sewage Sensor to Help Swimmers and Surfers
As San Francisco welcomes a big science festival this weekend, one Richmond District high schooler wants to make waves in water safety.
thefrisc.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
SFUSD has more money than it expected in the budget, but that doesn't necessarily mean it can afford salary raises, which the teachers' union and administrators' union are demanding. Read our update at @thefrisc.bsky.social 👇
thefrisc.com/sfusd-teache...
SFUSD, Teachers Union Hit Stalemate In Contract Negotiations
The union presented a ‘strike ready’ petition at Tuesday’s school board meeting, while the district said it spent less money last year than expected.
thefrisc.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🍎 SCHOOL UPDATE: As the SF teachers union rallied at Tuesday's SFUSD school board mtg, a district official acknowledged budget forecasts were out of whack. SFUSD has more 💰 than expected, but it can't just bump teacher salaries. @taybarton.bsky.social reports ✏️

thefrisc.com/sfusd-teache...
SFUSD, Teachers Union Hit Stalemate In Contract Negotiations
The union presented a ‘strike ready’ petition at Tuesday’s school board meeting, while the district said it spent less money last year than expected.
thefrisc.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
UESF is one step closer to striking after filing for impasse in bargaining with SFUSD, calling the 2% offer a slap in the face.

“That’s not a raise,” said prez Curiel. “That’s ‘how do you rob Peter to pay Paul?’ And Peter & Paul are on our bargaining team together.” thefrisc.com/teachers-uni...
Teachers Union Cools Off SFUSD Strike Talk Days Before Protest
UESF has been ‘strike ready’ for weeks, with signatures to prove it. They also say support for special-ed staff and homeless families is more important than a big pay boost.
thefrisc.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🤺 NEW, 'STRIKE-READY'? In contract negotiations with SUFSD, the teachers union says support for special ed and homeless families is the sticking point vs. pay raises. As for all that strike talk, @taybarton.bsky.social reports, it's one way to get the district to focus. thefrisc.com/teachers-uni...
Teachers Union Cools Off SFUSD Strike Talk Days Before Protest
UESF has been ‘strike ready’ for weeks, with signatures to prove it. They also say support for special-ed staff and homeless families is more important than a big pay boost.
thefrisc.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🧊 ICYMI, ICE V. EDU: A new CA law says that public schools must rebuff ICE agents who try to enter public schools. SFUSD already has a similar policy, but what if a situation escalates? @taybarton.bsky.social reports on how principals and teachers are grappling. thefrisc.com/new-californ...
New California Law Puts Anti-ICE Enforcement on Schools. Educators Want More Backup
The burden is on teachers and principals to turn away federal agents. That will require training, resources, and perhaps a lot of legal help.
thefrisc.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"We have more kids that are just not coming to school."

A new law says schools must bar ICE agents, but how it will be enforced and what that might cost is still TBD. SFUSD rejected UESF's request for more support.

My first story for @thefrisc.bsky.social is up!

thefrisc.com/new-californ...
New California Law Puts Anti-ICE Enforcement on Schools. Educators Want More Backup
The burden is on teachers and principals to turn away federal agents. That will require training, resources, and perhaps a lot of legal help.
thefrisc.com
September 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🎒 NEW, SCHOOLS & ICE: If ICE agents show up at SF schools, staff must turn them away. What if agents refuse? There is state/local assurance of help. But there's a difference, say some educators, between having a policy and a plan, @taybarton.bsky.social reports. thefrisc.com/new-californ...
New California Law Puts Anti-ICE Enforcement on Schools. Educators Want More Backup
The burden is on teachers and principals to turn away federal agents. That will require training, resources, and perhaps a lot of legal help.
thefrisc.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
We're now hearing more of the arguments around ethnic studies and the Mandarin immersion charter school. In case it wasn't clear, here's this year's policy on the ethnic studies requirement www.sfusd.edu/departments/...
August 27, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
🧵 ALERT: At 6:30 we'll join the regular mtg of the SF school board. The big item tonight is a board vote on a Mandarin immersion charter school that a parent group wants to start. SFUSD staff and superintendent are recommending against the proposal. Background here ✏️ thefrisc.com/charter-or-n...
‘Charter or Not’: SFUSD Has Raised Parents’ Mandarin Hopes. Now It Must Meet Them
The school district is urging a ‘no’ vote next week on a language-immersion charter. Officials say an alternative is coming but have revealed few details.
thefrisc.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Folks looking to cover & learn about addiction and recovery in the #BayArea: this one's for you! @thefrisc.bsky.social

#LocalNews #LocalJournalism #SanFrancisco #PublicHealth #JournalismSky
📣 NEW LIVE TALK: SF's OD epidemic has killed 1000s this decade. Join us 9/3 to talk addiction, recovery & policy. What’s working? What isn’t? How can SF save more lives? "Mayor of the Tenderloin" Del Seymour & Stanford prof Keith Humphreys will be in conversation. www.eventbrite.com/e/understand...
Understanding Addiction Night 2 - the Overdose Epidemic and Recovery Debate
Tonight's talk focuses on SF’s Overdose Epidemic and Recovery Debate - how can we get beyond polarization to help people? The Frisc Presents
www.eventbrite.com
August 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
A new group of early-career journalists and newsrooms were selected for the 2025-2027 California Local News Fellowship! Thank you, California, for supporting local journalism — an essential public service. Congrats to our fellows and newsrooms! fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows/ne...
July 18, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Reposted by Taylor Barton
📣 We're thrilled to welcome @taybarton.bsky.social, @berkeleyjournalism.bsky.social grad, to The Frisc in Sept. Taylor joins us via the Calif. Local News Fellowship and will tackle SF's big civic issues for us. With her experience covering schools, the environment & more, we can't wait to get going!
July 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Must-read alert from @themarshallproject.org's Shoshana Walter, Jill Castellano and @dduret.bsky.social!
July 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Today I learned that @newyorker.com editor Nimal Eames-Scott is a fellow #LucyDacus obsessive, and that is why today is a decent day.
April 10, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Bay Area #ClimateSky community! Come by the Metro Center on April 22 to catch our lightning talks with @kneedeeptimes.bsky.social. Registration is filling up fast, but we anticipate wait lists opening up if needed. DM me with questions!
On April 22, join KneeDeep Times Magazine for rapid-fire insights from eight local reporters covering the latest in climate science, technology, and community resilience. Our SF Climate Week session is full, but we expect wait list slots to open up! Learn more and register here: buff.ly/wmodpJf
April 10, 2025 at 11:24 PM