The Beacon Centers transform public schools into youth and family centers that become a beacon of activity for the surrounding neighborhood. Drawing on the existing wealth in our communities, Beacon Centers create pathways to lifelong learning through which young people and adults can always find the next challenge or step in their process of learning, growth, and development throughout a lifetime. 

The Beacon Centers offer young people a vibrant array of events and activities. Click on the icons below to learn more about activities and opportunities at the San Francisco Beacon Centers:

The Beacon Initiative is a public-private partnership that includes the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and their Families, the San Francisco Unified School District, community organizations, and local foundations, led by the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Oversight for the Beacon Initiative is provided by the Beacon Steering Committee, which includes representatives of each Stakeholder group.

Each Beacon Center is managed by a non-profit, community-based organization that serves as the lead agency, and has a Director and staff. The lead agency partners with a number of local community and public agencies to offer the activities that occur at each Center. The Centers offer young people a vibrant array of programs focused on five different areas that are important to their future.

The San Francisco Beacon Initiative has developed these Quality Standards in order to support continuous improvement at all Beacon Centers and to ensure accountability on behalf of youth, parents and caregivers, and public and private stakeholders. The standards will be the framework of ongoing evaluation of all Beacon Centers, providing objective data on outcomes that are being achieved for youth and families. 

Every Beacon Center will be expected to meet the Minimum Compliance Standards and the Early and Intermediate Standards, and will be evaluated annually to check on progress.  The quality standards were developed through a facilitated process involving a wide range of stakeholders, Beacon directors and staff, and Initiative staff. The standards were approved by the Beacon Steering Committee, which provides policy governance to the Initiative.