The San Francisco school board is scheduled to consider two proposals Tuesday for assigning students to schools closer to home, a major change from the district’s longstanding enrollment lottery. Families who spoke at a recent informational meeting urged officials not to move too quickly, warning that neighborhood assignments alone will not address disparities in school resources and programs. The district is weighing Option B, which would guarantee a seat at a student’s neighborhood school for families who apply by the deadline while allowing them to seek other schools citywide. Option C would guarantee a neighborhood placement even for families who miss the deadline, but limit additional applications to citywide programs such as K-8 and language immersion schools. A district survey of 2,725 families found that 71% favored Option B, compared with 48% for Option C. The board previously removed a third proposal that would have grouped nearby schools into small zones. The district plans to adopt a policy in April, with the new system scheduled to begin in the 2028-29 school year. Incoming kindergartners in fall 2028 would be the first students assigned under the new approach. Officials also expect to redraw attendance boundaries and assess school capacity, including whether to add programs or move existing ones. Families may not learn which school serves their address until spring. The change would replace a system in which incoming kindergarten families rank schools across the city and an algorithm makes assignments, considering factors such as siblings and home addresses. The current system also gives priority at selected schools to students from areas with historically low test scores. The school board voted in 2018 to eliminate the lottery after data showed it had not reduced socioeconomic segregation as intended, but a replacement was never put in place. A zone-based plan approved in 2020 was later delayed amid the pandemic, administrative challenges and budget deficits, then dropped from the current debate. Supporters say neighborhood placements could make enrollment more predictable, shorten trips to school and help stabilize campuses. Some schools receive far more kindergarten applications than they have seats, while others struggle to fill classrooms. Board Vice President Jaime Huling has said the current process creates anxiety for families and contributes to uneven enrollment. Parents and advocates, however, say families in southeastern neighborhoods often look beyond nearby schools because of concerns about educational outcomes, staffing and access to services. At the informational meeting, Guadalupe Elementary parent Roberto Guzman Rivera pointed to chronic absenteeism, suspensions and literacy levels in Black and Latino communities, and questioned whether the district was focusing enough on staffing and student needs. Board member Alida Fisher has acknowledged that changing assignments will not be enough without investment in schools that have had difficulty attracting and retaining students. Blanca Catalan, a parent organizer with Coleman Advocates, said neighborhood schools can offer stability but that location by itself does not ensure students receive the support and programs they need. The board’s decision could affect enrollment patterns for years, particularly as officials redraw boundaries and determine where high-demand offerings such as language immersion will be available. School fundraising also remains a concern: wealthier school communities can often raise substantial money for enrichment, while schools serving families with fewer resources have less ability to fill gaps. Board President Phil Kim has described the decision as consequential for the district’s future. Advocates have called for more community meetings before the district settles on a plan, arguing that families’ concerns about resources and school quality must be addressed alongside the assignment system.