Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Some LAUSD Campuses Will Reopen Early, But Most Parents Hesitant To Send Students Back
()
A relative handful of Los Angeles Unified School District campuses will begin reopening earlier than expected, during the week of April 12, Superintendent Austin Beutner announced Monday.
But as LAUSD surveys families, Beutner said, a pattern is emerging: most parents are reluctant to send their students back to schools — especially in neighborhoods where COVID-19 vaccines are scarce. Here’s what Beutner said Monday morning:
"The impact of the virus together with the lack of access to vaccinations is having a direct impact on the willingness of families to send their children back to schools."
So far, about three-fifths of LAUSD’s families have informed the district of their decision as to whether to return to campus. Among those who responded, less than half say their students will return.
Support for LAist comes from
However, if a parent does not respond to a survey, LAUSD assumes their child will remain in distance learning mode. That means — if current trends hold — that the majority of students do not plan on returning to campus:
- Parents of just 33% of LAUSD’s elementary students have indicated they plan to send their kids back.
- If the parent survey closed right now, just 21% of LAUSD’s middle schoolers would be returning in person.
- Around 14% of LAUSD’s high schoolers plan to return. (These last two figures certainly reflect some frustration among middle- and high schoolers and their famiies with the reopening plan for secondary campuses.)
Hoping that increased vaccine access will convince more families to send children back, Beutner announced the district will host two new vaccination sites for families of school-aged kids. St. John’s Well Child and Family Center will provide shots at Lincoln High School in East L.A. and at Washington Preparatory High School in South L.A.
LAUSD has already opened up its own vaccination clinics for school district employees.
WHEN WILL LAUSD SCHOOLS REOPEN?
Most LAUSD preschools and elementary campuses will reopen the week of April 19 — but today, Beutner said that 50 elementary schools and 10 early education centers will reopen the week of April 12.
On those campuses, kindergarteners and first graders will return on April 13. They’ll be followed by second and third graders on April 14, and remaining fourth and fifth graders on April 15.
Middle- and high school campuses are tentatively scheduled to reopen at the end of April.
Support for LAist comes from
ALSO OF NOTE…
As expected, United Teachers Los Angeles members voted to approve the union's agreement with LAUSD that paved the way for a return to campuses. Roughly 60 percent of UTLA's members cast ballots; nearly 90% favored adopting the agreement.
GO DEEPER:
- LAUSD Could Reopen Its Doors In April — But Will Parents Will Send Their Kids Back?
- LAUSD, Teachers Union Reach School Reopening Deal
UPDATES: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. with results of the UTLA vote. This story was updated a second time at 4:15 p.m. with updated results from LAUSD's return-to-campus survey.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist