Childcare and Education

Equitable access to quality childcare and educational opportunities is important for the development of the City's children and youth.

The goals below are related to this topic. Select a goal to learn more about the policies and actions South San Francisco will implement to meet that goal.

Key

ECS

Equitable Community Services

PR

Abundant and Accessible Parks and Recreation

LU

Land Use and Community Design

SA

Sub-Areas

Goal ECS-5 Goal ECS-7 Goal PR-4 Goal PR-9 Goal LU-1 Goal LU-5 Goal SA-36

Goal ECS-5

Goal ECS-5:

The City provides high-quality educational opportunities for all children and youth by maintaining a positive relationship with the South San Francisco Unified School District.

Intent:

To enhance the quality of educational opportunities through partnerships, programming, and data sharing.

Policy ECS-5.1: Develop partnerships for education.

Develop formalized partnerships with local businesses and non-profit organizations to support South San Francisco Unified School District students, particularly disadvantaged communities as identified in the Community Health and Environmental Justice Element and underserved groups.

Action ECS-5.1.1: Collaborate with life sciences industry.
Continue to partner with life science companies and associations to provide South San Francisco Unified School District students with internships, science awards, and upgraded lab equipment. Partner with life science companies to provide job training for current residents through Life Science Associations.
Action ECS-5.1.2: Identify special education opportunities.
Partner with life science companies and art organizations to provide special education students with internships, awards, and equipment in order to provide high-quality special education to South San Francisco children and youth.
Action ECS-5.1.3: Expand arts education partnerships.
Develop partnerships with art organizations and associations to provide students with internships, awards, and upgraded visual and performing arts equipment.
Action ECS-5.1.4: Mitigate summer learning slide.
Develop partnerships with San Mateo County and local libraries to provide summer learning and Big Lift Inspiring Summers learning and literacy support for local students.

Policy ECS-5.2: Provide a variety of youth programming.

Provide a variety of programming to ensure all children and youth in South San Francisco have educational and recreational opportunities, particularly disadvantaged communities as identified in the Community Health and Environmental Justice Element and underserved groups.

Action ECS-5.2.1: Target placement of programming.
Provide youth development programming in neighborhoods with high proportions of young people, especially low-income youth and youth of color.
Action ECS-5.2.2: Create summer internship pilot.
Pilot summer youth/teen internship program within South San Francisco City departments, with targeted recruitment of low-income youth and youth of color, to address opportunity gaps via exposure to government.
Action ECS-5.2.3: Create youth pilot programs to address resource gaps.
Meaningfully engage low-income students, students of color, and other historically disenfranchised community members to identify specific resource gaps (e.g., internet access and digital literacy) in the community. Pilot youth programming to address specific resource gaps or barriers.

Policy ECS-5.3: Maintain a data sharing agreement with South San Francisco Unified School District.

Maintain a continuous exchange of information with the South San Francisco Unified School District on projected growth of the city.

Goal ECS-7

Goal ECS-7:

South San Francisco public libraries serve as centralized hubs for educational and social services.

Intent:

To increase utilization of educational and social services, particularly by low-income residents and residents of color.

Policy ECS-7.1: Ensure adequate library services, staffing, and facilities.

Ensure adequate library services, staffing, and facilities are maintained for all residents

Policy ECS-7.2: Promote libraries as community hubs.

Promote the library as a community hub for culturally and linguistically competent educational and social services.

Policy ECS-7.3: Promote literacy programs.

Provide inclusive programming, technological resources, and services at libraries to promote literacy and support educational outcomes of K-12 students.

Policy ECS-7.4: Sustain diversity in library collections.

Maintain library collections that reflect the languages, cultures, and ethnicities found in the South San Francisco community.

Policy ECS-7.5: Expand outreach about diverse authors.

Expand programs that connect residents not currently visiting the libraries to book selections of diverse authors (e.g., summer reading program).

Policy ECS-7.6: Provide navigation of City programs.

Partner with the City’s community navigators and promotores to provide residents with access to information about City, County, and non-profit programs and resources.

Policy ECS-7.7: Conduct regular evaluation of library services.

Develop customer service surveys to use to evaluate library programs and events.

Goal PR-4

Goal PR-4:

The City collaborates with a strong network of partners to improve and expand park and recreational opportunities across South San Francisco.

Intent:

To increase the availability and accessibility of recreational opportunities through joint use, development agreements, and other arrangement with public agency partners, private entities, and volunteer groups.

Policy PR-4.1: Maintain joint use facilities standard.

To complement and extend City park and recreational service delivery, maintain a service target of 1.0 acres of joint use facilities per 1,000 residents.

Policy PR-4.2: Coordinate with South San Francisco Unified School District on facility access.

Work closely with South San Francisco Unified School District to improve community access to school facilities, including pools, athletic fields and playgrounds, outside of school hours to improve neighborhood access to recreational facilities, to expand after-school and summer programs, and to strengthen the relationship between schools and their immediate neighborhoods. Establish procedures for the creation of joint-sites, including the division of maintenance responsibility.

Action PR-4.2.1: Establish Sunshine Gardens Shared use agreement.

Establish a partnership with the South San Francisco Unified School District to provide access to Sunshine Gardens Elementary School open space areas and playground.
Action PR-4.2.2: Provide recreational programing in joint use facilities.

Coordinate with the South San Francisco Unified School District and San Mateo County Health Department, as well as local health providers and other community organizations, to provide recreational programming not offered in nearby public parks or recreation centers, such as after-school fitness and education programs.
Action PR-4.2.3: Expand afterschool and summer childcare.

Continue to work with the South San Francisco Unified School District to expand after-school and summer childcare.

Policy PR-4.3: Partner with school district to transform former school sites.

Partner with South San Francisco Unified School District to support the conversion of former school sites like Foxridge and Serra Vista to park space, childcare facilities, and multifamily housing.

Policy PR-4.4: Maintain Caltrain plaza joint use agreement.

Maintain a joint use agreement with Caltrain for public access at the Downtown Plaza / westside entry to the Caltrain Station. Work with neighboring property owners to maintain the site.

Policy PR-4.5: Maintain Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) joint use agreement.

Maintain a joint use agreement with Bay Area Rapid Transit for public access along the Centennial Way Trail as well as improved parkland.

Policy PR-4.6: Convert public easements.

Work with other agencies, including Pacific Gas & Electric, the California Water Service, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and to convert public easements, such as utility corridors or unused rights of way, into parks and trails.

Policy PR-4.7: Provide publicly accessible, private open space.

Work with non-residential development projects in the East of 101, Lindenville, and El Camino sub-areas to provide publicly accessible private maintained open space as part of a developer agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, or similar legally binding agreement with the city. Establish standards for private parks so that their quality is on par with public parks. Require the identification of an entity responsible for park maintenance, adoption of maintenance standards and guarantees of a funding source for long-term maintenance.

Policy PR-4.8: Support non-profit partnerships for park maintenance and programing.

Streamline internal processes to encourage partnerships with other agencies, volunteer groups, and nonprofit groups. Partner with non-profit organizations for park and trail maintenance, funding, and programming.

Goal PR-9

Goal PR-9:

South San Francisco maintains quality childcare and preschool programs citywide.

Intent:

To enhance the quality of childcare and preschool and to expand (City, private, and public) childcare opportunities and services throughout the city.

Policy PR-9.1: Enhance Child Care Program.

Maintain and continue to improve the City’s Childcare Program to enhance the quality of childcare and preschool in the city.

Action PR-9.1.1: Implement Child Care Master Plan.

Adopt and implement the Child Care Master Plan, updating the Plan every 5-to-10 years.

Policy PR-9.2: Expand early childhood education for families of color and low-income families.

Expand high-quality early childhood education for families of color and low-income families in South San Francisco and/or establishing universal preschool.

Action PR-9.2.1: Expand funding for universal preschool.

Continue exploring possible funding to establish and maintain universal preschool or to establish universal preschool for lower-income families.

Policy PR-9.3 Expand childcare options.

Expand availability of affordable childcare and preschool for people of all income levels, with particular emphasis on lower-income families particularly in Downtown, Westborough/Winston Serra, and the new residential area of Lyndonville.

Action PR-9.3.1: Update Zoning code for childcare.

Update the Zoning Code to:
- Allow large family care homes by right in residential units as required by Senate Bill 234 (2019).
- Allow childcare facilities by right in all residential land use designations when located within one-quarter of a mile from public and institutional uses, e.g., schools and churches.
- Allow child care facilities in residential neighborhoods that meet specified
  performance standards.
- Allow childcare facilities in mixed use districts East of 101 and in Lyndonville.
- Allow childcare facilities by right in the business technology park land use designation.
Action PR-9.3.2: Maintain land inventory for childcare.

Conduct an inventory of property that may be converted or developed into public or private Early Childcare Education facilities.
Action PR-9.3.3: Explore parking reductions for childcare facilities.
Action PR-9.3.4: Provide incentives for new development to create childcare facilities.

Provide incentives to new development to create childcare facilities as a community benefit. Encourage new development to provide on-site childcare facilities rather than paying an in-lieu fees.
Action PR-9.3.5: Coordinate citywide childcare programs.

Coordinate and integrate childcare programs with existing housing, community, and social programs as described in the Child Care Master Plan.

Policy PR-9.4: Support business development for childcare.

Encourage private preschools and childcare facilities to open in South San Francisco, particularly in neighborhoods with young children, employment land uses, and neighborhoods currently underserved by preschool and childcare facilities.

Action PR-9.4.1: Explore grant funding for childcare.

Explore the provision of one-time grants to Family Child Care homes for zoning permit application or to update homes to be ready for babies and toddlers, including removing penalties for those who want to legalize their Family Child Care homes.
Action PR-9.4.2: Maintain online portal for childcare.

Maintain an online portal and resources for childcare business development.

Policy PR-9.5: Advocate for Childcare.

Advocate in support of state and federal funding and programs that subsidize or expand early childhood education.

Policy PR-9.6: Partner with San Mateo County and other organizations to provide quality childcare and preschool services.

Partner with San Mateo County and other local and regional organizations to provide high-provide quality childcare and preschool services to South San Francisco residents and workers.

For related policies and implementation actions related to recreational programing and equity, see Goals PR-1 and PR-8. For policies related to funding, see Goal PR-11.

Goal LU-1

Goal LU-1:

Create complete neighborhoods, where residents can access most of their everyday needs within a short walk, bike, or transit trip.

Intent:

To encourage residents to live healthy lifestyles, reduce dependence on automobiles, and bolster pedestrian activity and community vibrancy by providing walkable access to services and amenities.

Policy LU-1.1: Support mixed use activity centers.

Support a network of vibrant mixed use activity centers located throughout the city. Mixed use centers should include business and services, housing, healthy food, parks, and other gathering places.

Action LU-1.1.1: Maintain vacant building inventory.
Maintain an inventory of vacant buildings and encourage developers and potential business owners to locate their development/businesses in areas most in need of their resources.
Action LU-1.1.2: Implement mixed use rezoning.
Identify key activity areas that currently feature single-use commercial or residential zoning designations, and re-zone to allow for mixed use development that could provide more convenient access to local commercial.
Action LU-1.1.3: Complete neighborhoods study.
Initiate a study to determine appropriate locations for siting everyday needs, including services, healthy food, public facilities, and shopping within a short walk, bike, or transit trip of all residents.

Policy LU-1.2: Connectivity in complete neighborhoods.

Improve walk, bike, and accessibility in complete neighborhoods.

Action LU-1.2.1: Department coordination for complete neighborhoods planning.
Ensure coordination between the Economic & Community Development and Public Works Departments to align needed transportation improvement projects with land use planning in complete neighborhoods.
Action LU-1.2.2: Develop infrastructure improvement program for complete neighborhoods.
Develop a formal program and structure to evaluate and facilitate the repair, maintenance, and expansion of bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure in complete neighborhoods.

Policy LU-1.3: Improve access to healthy foods.

Encourage development of community gardens, allowing food “pop-ups” and mobile vendors throughout the city, encouraging siting of grocery stores and markets in areas where residents lack convenient access to healthy food, and supporting and expanding the South San Francisco Farmers’ Market.

Action LU-1.3.1: Rezoning and public easements for healthy foods.
Identify parcels and areas in public rights-of-way that can facilitate community gardens and re-zone to allow urban agriculture.

Policy LU-1.4: Maintain and expand public facilities and services.

Maintain and expand public facilities to better support the community, including schools, libraries, utilities, and recreational spaces, particularly in neighborhoods lacking these resources. Seek opportunities to co-locate new public projects near compatible civic uses such as schools and campuses to create nodes of activity and services.

Policy LU-1.5: Create places and opportunities for neighborhood events.

Create places and opportunities for neighborhood events that bring the South San Francisco community together.

Action LU-1.5.1: Funding for neighborhood events.
Seek funding, sponsors, and partnerships to provide community involvement programs such as Light Up the Night, Neighbors Night Out, and other similar activities and programs designed to strengthen neighborhoods.

Policy LU-1.6: Promote Childcare and pre-K facilities.

Promote childcare and pre-K facilities in South San Francisco.

Action LU-1.6.1: Zone for Childcare and pre-K.
Revise the Zoning Ordinance to allow childcare and pre-K facilities throughout the city.
Action LU-1.6.2: Fund and expand childcare and pre-K.
Coordinate with public institutions, including San Mateo County, and seek State, federal, and private funding sources to maximize resources to fund and expand childcare and pre-K in South San Francisco.

Policy LU-1.7: Create new Lindenville and East of 101 mixed use neighborhoods.

Facilitate the construction of new mixed-use neighborhoods in Lindenville and East of 101 that are well connected to services, transit, amenities, public buildings, and parks and recreational facilities.

Goal LU-5

Goal LU-5:

South San Francisco remains a hub of R&D employment, operations, and innovation and is home to the largest worldwide cluster of life science uses.

Intent:

To ensure South San Francisco remains a worldwide hub of innovation.

Policy LU-5.1: Maintain a critical mass of land zoned for R&D.

Maintain a critical mass of land zoned for R&D to ensure South San Francisco remains a friendly place for R&D companies.

Policy LU-5.2: Maintain high-quality design and development standards.

Maintain high-quality design and development standards for R&D companies that support a mix of larger, higher-intensity campuses.

Policy LU-5.3: Require campus open space.

Require significant public and private open space and outdoor amenities. Work with development projects to provide publicly accessible, private open space as part of their site plans

Policy LU-5.4: Zone to attract emerging technology businesses.

Allow and attract innovative and emerging technology businesses to South San Francisco through flexible use and zoning requirements.

Policy LU-5.5: Improve connectivity for R&D workforces.

Maintain vehicular infrastructure and improve circulation to accommodate the travel demand of existing and future workplaces.

Policy LU-5.6: Community benefits framework.

Continue to update and refine the community benefits framework that requires R&D companies to contribute to community goals and amenities, including parks and public spaces, affordable housing, and transportation demand management.

Policy LU-5.7: Collaboration with property owners.

Collaboration with property owners and new private developer to define collective action to achieve plan goals.

Goal SA-36

Goal SA-36:

There is new residential infill development and recreational and childcare amenities in Westborough.

Policy SA-36.1: Allow mixed use shopping centers.

Create a complete neighborhood by allowing mixed use activity centers, introducing new housing at the Westborough Shopping Center and the shopping center at Gellert Boulevard and Westborough Blvd.

Policy SA-36.2: Provide childcare in Westborough.

Explore development of a new childcare center to serve Westborough residents in the Westborough shopping center.

Policy SA-36.3: Encourage infill housing development in Westborough.

Expand housing opportunity in Westborough by encouraging small-scale residential infill development (e.g., ADUs) in existing residential neighborhoods and working with the South San Francisco Unified School District to convert the Foxridge School site to park space and housing that offers affordable, teacher housing opportunities.

Policy SA-36.4: Expand parks and walking trails in Westborough.

Expand access to parks and active transportation opportunities in Westborough.

Action SA-36.4.1: Support the development of a new park and bicycle and pedestrian trails along Skyline Boulevard in collaboration with Caltrans.

Support the development of a new park and bicycle and pedestrian trails along Skyline Boulevard in collaboration with Caltrans.

Childcare and Education

Key

ECS

PR

LU

SA

Goal ECS-5:

The City provides high-quality educational opportunities for all children and youth by maintaining a positive relationship with the South San Francisco Unified School District.

Intent:

Policy ECS-5.1: Develop partnerships for education.

Action ECS-5.1.1: Collaborate with life sciences industry.

Action ECS-5.1.2: Identify special education opportunities.

Action ECS-5.1.3: Expand arts education partnerships.

Action ECS-5.1.4: Mitigate summer learning slide.

Policy ECS-5.2: Provide a variety of youth programming.

Action ECS-5.2.1: Target placement of programming.

Action ECS-5.2.2: Create summer internship pilot.

Action ECS-5.2.3: Create youth pilot programs to address resource gaps.

Policy ECS-5.3: Maintain a data sharing agreement with South San Francisco Unified School District.

Sitemap

Company Details

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST TO STAY INVOLVED!