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LAUSD District 2 Board Candidates Want To Expand Early Learning And Care, But Differ On Details
About 17,000 students attend L.A. Unified’s pre-K and transitional kindergarten programs.
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Mariana Dale
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LAist
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Topline:
Candidates running to represent the Los Angeles Unified School District’s east side say LAUSD should offer more early care and education opportunities, but have different ideas on how to fund the expansion.
Their ideas: District 2 board candidate Rocío Rivas said in a forum she’d look to the state for more funding while her opponent María Brenes said she would ask voters to support increased taxes.
The backstory: The candidates met virtually in a forum hosted this week by the L.A. Partnership for Early Childhood Investment and UNITE-LA. Rivas is a parent activist and current board staffer. Brenes directs the nonprofit Inner City Struggle.
Why it matters: The number of kids attending LAUSD schools has declined for two decades, which means less money from the state. At the same time, many families struggle to find affordable, high-quality early care and education. California is in the midst of expanding a public school pre-K program to every 4-year-old and the latest enrollment figures show the grade has more children than expected. About 17,000 students attend L.A. Unified’s pre-K and transitional kindergarten programs.
What's next: It’s time to vote! Learn more about the candidates for LAUSD’s board.
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