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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.
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Starting Monday, some Los Angeles County child care providers can apply for $5 million in grants.
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The Los Angeles County Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition Systems Alignment Framework debuts today. We know it’s a mouthful. This story breaks down why it’s important to young learners.
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Our friends at KPBS in San Diego are hosting a conversation today at 7 p.m. about COVID-19 and child care.
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The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District isn’t ending early education programs, but it has laid off most of the staff until it can reopen for in-person education or more families enroll.
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After the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District switched to distance learning, enrollment in early childhood programs plummeted, exposing the careful balance of private and public funding required to maintain its early learning programs.
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For eight years now, this national movement has highlighted breastfeeding as one tool to help reverse the disparate health outcomes Black moms and babies experience.
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The L.A. Unified School District board voted unanimously to investigate what it would take to extend on-campus child care currently available for staff to all families.
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“Let's get ready. Let's be calm. And let's go ahead and make sure that we can reach every parent,” was one early education principal’s message.
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What started as an effort to deliver books to Los Angeles Unifed School District students in South and South Central L.A. has evolved into a community distribution for people of all ages.
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What started as an effort to deliver books to Claudia Cataldo's students in South L.A. has evolved into a community distribution for people of all ages.
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The L.A. County Department of Public Health has investigated one coronavirus outbreak at a child care center in Boyle Heights where five teachers tested positive for COVID-19.
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There are relatively few cases of the coronavirus linked to L.A. child care centers, but the data is inconsistent and there's been at least one outbreak at a center here that says it followed safety guidelines.
