-
Listen Listen
Mariana Dale
What I cover
I explore and explain the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school. Our K-12 education system has not always provided each child the same opportunities to succeed, but I believe all kids have the capacity to learn and find a meaningful place in the world.
My background
I started at LAist in 2019 as the early childhood reporter where I quickly realized that what we think of as education starts well before a kid steps into a classroom. Health, access to child care and nutritious food are a few of the many factors that shape young people’s lives. My reporting on the disparities in maternal mortality taught me that inequity can lead to deadly outcomes but also that there is a groundswell of community support pushing to change harmful systems.
I grew up in Arizona, where among other things, I reported on education, saguaro cactus and questions from people like you. I’m proud to mentor emerging journalists through Next Gen Radio and various education programs.
My reporting has earned a national Edward R. Murrow award, Hillman Prize and accolades from the L.A. Press Club and the Online News Association.
My goals
I want to help families navigate their child’s education, explore the challenges that prevent schools from creating an environment where all students can learn and highlight solutions.
Best way to reach me
I love to hear questions and ideas for stories about schools and the opportunities in our community for children to learn and grow. You can reach out by email at mdale@laist.com.
-
The City of Los Angeles will soon distribute $3 million to family child care providers who have continued to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.
-
Congress more than tripled the WIC produce benefit but the expansion was set to expire at the end of 2021.
-
For the first time in more than a decade, families had more money to buy produce through WIC. And they made good use of it.
-
Community health workers can help parents navigate questions about food, sleep, behavior and mental health. A new Medi-Cal benefit could help make these pilot programs permanent.
-
The district’s mobile vaccination teams will provide the vaccine to 5-11 year old children starting Nov. 8 with school-based clinics to follow later in the month.
-
Students at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts have been putting blood, sweat and tears into reviving a chilling Halloween event — emphasis on blood.
-
Families can’t pay more for child care. Advocates say until the local, state and federal government intervene early education will remain one fo the lowest paid professions in the country.
-
California was the first state to create a family leave benefit in 2002. The rest of the county is still trying to catch up.
-
L.A. parents passing on Dodger fandom to the next generation and handling meltdowns and winning with grace.
-
The view of one advocate? “I hear this mantra that the child care system is broken and I frankly would argue that it’s never been broken, it's just been severely underfunded.”
-
A long-standing San Pedro nature class for parents and young children now offers activities in Spanish and Mandarin.
-
Sixty percent of California children under have five speak a language other than English at home — so educators gathered tools to help them thrive.
