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Gov. Newsom offers schools, students flexibility in wake of LA fires
Kids' lunch boxes sit in a locker at the Marquez Charter Elementary School that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 14, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order meant to help students who’ve been displaced by the recent fires.
What's in the order: Newsom suspended state rules so that:
- Students can now attend schools outside their normal district.
- Schools that were damaged or destroyed can hold classes in temporary spaces.
- Class size requirements for transitional kindergarten through eighth grade are lifted.
- Affected school districts aren't penalized for not meeting the minimum number of instructional days.
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Why it matters: Nearly two dozen school districts have experienced full or partial closures since the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out, interrupting classes for roughly 700,000 students around Los Angeles. Some schools burned down.
What's next: Newsom also directed state agencies to work with impacted schools to develop a plan to serve students as they rebuild.
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