SFUSD Leaders Discussed Classroom Technology at Dreamforce

The San Francisco school district has expanded its partnership with Salesforce to include new grants and AI resources.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Distance Learning

Bold vector editorial illustration of a wooden classroom desk with books and building blocks, representing modern educational tools. — SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su announced an $18 million Salesforce education grant, including $6 million to bolster classroom technology in San Francisco schools. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support the integration of AI-powered educational tools into your local public schools?

SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su addressed classroom technology integration at the recent Dreamforce conference. During the event, Salesforce announced $18 million in new education grants, including $6 million specifically for San Francisco schools.

Why it matters

The district aims to bridge the technology gap exposed during the pandemic while navigating concerns over AI tools. These resources seek to provide educators with professional development and support as the district prepares for new policy votes.

SFUSD has signed a contract to provide ChatGPT Edu to 12,000 teachers and staff members. Meanwhile, a petition signed by 1,000 local parents and teachers is calling for stricter limits on screen time and AI tools in classrooms.

The players

Maria Su

She serves as the Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District.

Salesforce

This is a cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco that provides major funding to local educational initiatives.

OpenAI

This is an artificial intelligence research organization that provides the ChatGPT platform.

The details

The district is currently managing a 14-year partnership with Salesforce to implement classroom technology and software contracts. These initiatives remain subject to a pending school board vote scheduled for March 2027, which will formalize the district's official stance on technology and AI usage.

Salesforce began donating to Bay Area schools in 2013.
Maria Su spoke at the Dreamforce conference in September 2026.
Salesforce announced $18 million in education grants in September 2026.
The school board is set to vote on a technology and AI policy in March 2027.

Culture Shift

This initiative follows the 14-year partnership between SFUSD and Salesforce, which serves as a benchmark for corporate-educational alliances. The move reflects a broader trend of integrating private-sector AI tools into public school curriculum as the district balances innovation with parental oversight.

Teachers and staff will gain access to new AI software tools meant to support their daily workflows and professional development. Parents may see changes to classroom screen time policies following the upcoming board vote in March 2027.

The takeaway

The district is attempting to reconcile the benefits of corporate-provided AI tools with growing community concerns regarding student technology usage. Residents should monitor upcoming board meetings to understand how these policies will govern classroom interaction in the future.