Tag: LAUSD

WESTWOOD—A newly released report from UCLA found that 298,254 K-12 students were homeless in California during the 2024-2025 school year. This was the highest number ever recorded in the state and marked a 10 percent increase since the 2018-2019 school year.

Researchers analyzed data from the California Department of Education to understand how homeless students performed compared to their peers. The findings showed that unhoused students scored roughly 20 percent lower than housed peers on state academic benchmarks.

Seven of the ten school districts with the highest counts of students experiencing homelessness were in Southern California. Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties together accounted for half of the state’s homeless student population.

UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools found that “housing instability affects attendance, academic achievement, graduation, and college-going.”

The report was released after California approved a one-time $116 million allocation to help schools identify homeless K-12 students and connect them with support.

“This new funding is the largest dedicated state funding to prioritize housing-insecure youth in the country. We look forward to working with our state’s policymakers and educators to ensure that California’s most housing-insecure students have an equitable opportunity to succeed. Our hope is that this new research can serve as a roadmap for prevention and systems change,” said Joseph Bishop, executive director of the Center for the Transformation of Schools.

The Los Angeles Unified School District projects an $877 million deficit for the 2026-2027 school year and is in the process of laying off employees and cutting programs.

By Milan Manesh

PACIFIC PALISADES—On Monday, January 13, many students in the Los Angeles County Unified School District (LAUSD) previously evacuated, returned to school. LAUSD has close to 430,000 students enrolled in school, some of whom come from schools with significant fire damage and will not be returning to school anytime soon.

LAUSD Superintendent, Alberto M. Carvalho made the following statement in a January 13 press release. The full text may be found on the LAUSD website.

“It was poignant seeing many of our students and employees return to school. The resilience of our students, families, and employees has been inspiring. While we continue to address the impact of wildfires our focus remains on providing a safe and supporting learning environment. We deeply appreciate our dedicated employees, including our classified and certificated substitutes, for your unwavering commitment to students under these extraordinary circumstances.”

The following schools remain closed due to mandatory evacuation orders; Canyon Charter Elementary, Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary, Palisades Charter Elementary, Marquez Charter Elementary, Topanga Charter Elementary, Lanai Road Elementary, Roscomare Road Elementary, Community Magnet Charter, and Paul Revere Middle School. Updates may also be found on the District/School websites.

In addition, the district will have additional resources to aid students and teachers as they transition back to school. Due to a shortage of teachers, Substitute teachers are encouraged to fill in where they are needed most.

“As Los Angeles Unified moves forward, plans for rebuilding Palisades Charter Elementary and Marquez Charter Elementary Schools, and addressing long-term recovery are underway. The district is committed to keeping families and communities informed throughout the process.”- LAUSD Super Intendent, Alberto Carvalho

The following information came directly from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

“All Santa Monica schools will reopen Tuesday, January 14, 2025. We will be prepared to implement our inclement weather schedule if air quality changes.”

More information on the air quality response may be found on the SMMUSD website.

“Malibu schools will remain closed Tuesday and Wednesday, January 14th and 15th due to ongoing safety concerns of the Palisades Fire along with road closures and power and gas outages in some neighborhoods.”

By Sharon