Los Angeles Unified School District has increased the number of schools offering summer classes by nearly half in response to widespread immigration raids throughout the region.
“We believe that the protective environment that our schools offer remains absolutely important at this time,” said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho at a news conference Tuesday. “Any educational opportunity we create and afford our kids will better prepare them for the next school year.”
The program started Tuesday at 320 schools, but families still have time to sign up for classes that run from now through July 16. Carvalho said transportation is available for every student who enrolls. There will also be additional summer camps starting in July.
What happens in summer school?
Among the opportunities available for students:
- Credit recovery
- Dual enrollment where students can earn college credit
- A virtual option
- Enrichment classes that also count as credits toward graduation
- Summer camp style programs focusing on science, art, career exploration, e-sports and swimming
- A program where students with disabilities can continue working toward their goals
- A program for high school students who moved to the U.S. in the last three years
“We're trying to level the playing field for many of our students who would otherwise not have access to these types of programs,” said Board Member Karla Griego.
Griego and other school leaders appealed to parents to continue sending their children to school despite fears related to recent immigration raids. Federal immigration officials have targeted people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens, in their homes, at work, health clinics, churches, during routine immigration check-ins and on the streets.
“Please trust that our schools continue to be safe places,” Griego said. “For our students, when you are in community, in these moments of vulnerability, of uncertainty and fear — being in community is what holds us and makes us stronger.”
What's the summer school experience like?
Joaquin Prado is a rising junior taking art at Santee Education Complex this summer.
“ I'm not really into art,” Prado said. “I wanted to kind of experiment over summer." This painting of Iron Man is one of his first assignments.
Joaquin Prado is a rising junior taking art at Santee Education Complex this summer.
“When most people think summer is for relaxing, I find it by the end of week one. If you're not doing something meaningful, boredom's gonna hit you really fast,” Prado said.
Since the class fulfills a graduation requirement, it frees up his schedule to take another elective next year. Prado employed the same strategy last summer when he took PE class and added an advanced psychology course that could earn him college credit.
“ AP psychology is like really fascinating to me,” Prado said. “I definitely think it's something I might pursue later in college and just learning how the mind works and as well as why we think the way we do.”
Plus, he’s a fan of the school’s spicy chicken sandwiches and the district’s famous coffee cake.
About 1,000 of Prado’s 1,600 Santee peers enrolled in summer classes.
Carvalho said there are about 140,000 students in summer programs district wide, between summer school, virtual classes, enrichment programs and partnerships with organizations like afterschool provider LA’s BEST.
Biology students practiced observations on the first day of summer school, Tues. June 17, 2025.
Rising senior Patrick Hines is taking biology at Santee this summer. " I'm pretty well educated, I'll say, but right now I'm just trying to do more to get myself into college," Hines said.
How do I sign up?
Here's how to get summer learning resources for your family.
- Register. Find information on all of LAUSD’s summer programs, including how to request transportation.
- Pick-up free food. Anyone ages 1 to 18, including those not enrolled in LAUSD, can visit participating schools and get three free meals a day.
- Get informed. Parents, there’s summer school for you too. View upcoming Family Academy webinars and watch recordings of past sessions on topics including immigration-related emergencies, supporting LGBTQ students and navigating middle school.
- Call for support. The district's family hotline is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, (213) 443-1300. Families can get referrals to resources including mental health support and free legal aid.
