Kyle Stokes
Senior Reporter, K-12 Education (he/him)I report on the public education system — and the societal forces, parental choices and political decisions that determine which students get access to a “good” school (and how we define a “good school”).
Since graduating from the University of Missouri, I’ve covered education in three different states: first for StateImpact Indiana (WFIU/NPR); then in Seattle for KPLU Public Radio (now KNKX); and for this newsroom since February 2016. Along the way, I’ve covered two major teacher strikes and produced a documentary about the turnaround of a Seattle high school.
I was born in Minneapolis. A Martínez, who hosts our newsroom’s local news and culture show Take Two on 89.3 KPCC, has called me L.A.’s “biggest Minnesota Twins fan.” I love how this region’s mountains and beaches wrap around the most diverse array of breakfast burritos imaginable. As a native Midwesterner, I know all this sunshine is truly a luxury — but I still think L.A.’s prettiest in the rain.
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Education
This school year will feel, not normal, but “familiar” — even if some LAUSD families aren’t ready for that. -
Education
The district was one of the few in Southern California to stick with distance learning last spring, as other school campuses reopened.
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Education
Los Angeles Unified School District officials have announced they will require all students and employees — regardless of vaccination status — to get a COVID-19 test before the new school year begins on Aug. 16, and to participate in weekly testing.
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Education
Parents have until Friday, July 30, to opt out of in-person instruction for their kids in the fall. Online instruction is still available, but it will differ from last year's distance learning.
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Education
In an exit interview, the outgoing L.A. schools superintendent says he did shake up the status quo as he promised — but by collaborating with the school district’s most powerful interests, not challenging them.
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Education
“You were the right man at the right time,” a former critic said.
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Education
A parent poll shows Black parents were most satisfied with distance learning — and concerned about "racism, bullying and low academic expectations" once students return in-person.
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Education
The emergency spending powers granted to the superintendent helped LAUSD secure enough devices early for distance learning and land a COVID-19 testing contract.
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Education
Most California school districts have been reopening campuses, but not all. Two of SoCal’s biggest are waiting.
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Education
Mobile teams will deliver shots on campuses once before school lets out, and once over the summer.
