• The board decided to reinstate the merit-based system in a 4-3 decision.
• It comes two years after switching to a lottery-based method in an effort to allay complaints about alleged racism.
• New system could face legal challenges due to state law regarding academic criteria.

The education board of the San Francisco Unified School District has decided to reinstate a merit-based admissions policy.

The board decided to reinstate the merit-based system in a 4-3 decision on Wednesday night, two years after switching to a lottery-based method in an effort to allay complaints about alleged racism.

Following pressure from parents who expressed worries that social justice aims had become more important to the board.

After the recall election in February, Siva Raj, a parent who assisted in starting the recall effort, said, “The city of San Francisco has come up and said this is not acceptable to put our kids last.”

“Action, not talk, is what will educate our children.

Helping students inside the school building read and understand math is what this initiative is all about; it is not about making a symbolic gesture or renaming a school.”

The new merit-based system could face legal challenges due to state law regarding academic criteria.

Last year, a judge prevented the school board from making the lottery system.

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The lottery system however supported by many who believe it makes the school more diverse.

The board rejected Superintendent Vince Matthews’ request to continue using it for another academic year.

“It is available to all ethnic groups. It’s for all college students who decide to live in Lowell, “The San Francisco Chronicle informed by Virginia Marshall, president of the San Francisco Alliance of Black Educators.