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 childcare 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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The Harbor City-Harbor Gateway branch of the Los Angeles Public Library opened a new space designed with neurodiverse families in mind. -
In Los Angeles Unified alone, there are more than 400 elementary schools, plus hundreds of specialized programs and dozens of charter schools run by separate nonprofits. -
Lisi Harrison’s The Clique series rode the Mean Girls wave of the 2000s, but her approach to writing about teen drama has changed over the decades. -
This sunny vine thrives in an unforgiving urban environment — could that become a problem? -
Legal advocates say the department’s school wellness checks are a ‘cloak for immigration enforcement.’ -
Lower Trestles beat out Huntington Beach to host surfing’s third Olympic appearance. -
California’s senators and 18 Congressional representatives are asking Department of Homeland Security for an explanation after agents visited two L.A. schools last week. -
Federal agents were turned away from two South Los Angeles elementary schools this week, the district’s superintendent says. -
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted Tuesday to amplify the role of the region’s Indigenous communities. -
A high school in the San Fernando Valley is in the midst of a $274 million renovation that demonstrates the longevity of school bonds.
