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Listen Listen
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 child care 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 .
Stories by Mariana Dale
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The Los Angeles Unified School District’s proposed budget maintains staffing, mental health support and continues to reduce class sizes despite the end of federal pandemic relief funding.
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Truckloads of soil and boulders made an unlikely journey to downtown Los Angeles, where they will help restore a historic park and join a living art and environmental experiment.
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The park has long hosted Juneteenth events that bring thousands of people to South L.A
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California’s largest school district wants to restrict cellphone and social media use during the school day over concerns about their impact on student mental health.
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The Los Angeles Unified board will consider directing staff to create a policy that would ban student phones and social media use from bell to bell.
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The Los Angeles Public Library’s summer reading challenge kicks off with a new tote bag designed by local artist Noor Sofi.
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Anely Cortez Lopez will start her term as student board member in July: “I'm going to … show students that their voices are meant to be heard and not overshadowed by the noise.”
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For our second annual Super-Fun Saturday, we partnered with more than two dozen community partners, along with local Los Angeles authors and performers.
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Protests, flag bans, and book restrictions tested teachers’ ability to create a safe space for students to learn.
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Los Angeles moms Lulu Cheng and Lacey Benard bring new perspectives to children’s books that better reflect today’s multicultural kids.
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California’s deficit has increased, but K-12 schools are largely spared cuts in the governor's May revision.
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The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education is getting a new website and wants the public’s help to shape it.
