Dear friends and partners, 

As of today, I am excited to say that every LA Unified campus has officially reopened with an in-person learning option for every family who has chosen to return. With California having the lowest national COVID case rate of any state, Los Angeles nearing the yellow tier to further lift reopening restrictions, and vaccination rates continuing to climb, I am increasingly confident that the Fall semester will look as close to normal as possible. Our kids need a full-day, in-person learning option to begin recovering from this crisis--mentally, physically, and emotionally. I will keep pushing for all families to have that opportunity in the Fall.

But the path to recovery can’t wait, and our work continues to support families and school communities during the transition to hybrid instruction and address any concerns with innovative, student-centered solutions. This week, the District officially announced that elementary and early education students will finally be able to use playground structures and equipment with safety protocols in place. I chaired our latest budget committee conversation to publicly discuss aligning LAUSD’s vision for success with the transparent and equitable funding, and we spent time in our latest Board meeting focusing on investments to support student mental health and early literacy. And my office held our latest virtual town hall to provide families with more information about upcoming summer learning and enrichment opportunities for our students, which you can view here.    

Our nation also heard more from President Biden about his plans to make transformative investments in America’s children and families, including universal preschool for all three and four year olds, access to affordable and high quality child care, expanded child tax credits for low-income families, and more. Earlier this month, I co-sponsored a resolution committing the District to reaching our goal of universal preschool by 2024, and I hope this federal plan will help us get there. We know that a strong social safety net is essential for our kids to learn, grow, and thrive both in and out of school, and it’s time to create a system that sets every child up for success.

During this time of transition, you may have also heard that Superintendent Beutner will be moving on at the end of June. We are grateful for his service, especially during this year of unprecedented crisis. The Board announced last week that Deputy Supt. Megan Reilly will serve as Interim Superintendent to ensure continuity while we conduct a robust and transparent search for our next leader. It’s my commitment that, through this transition, the district and its dedicated staff will remain laser focused on our continued, collective mission to bring students back safely and meet the needs of families. 

With regards to our search process, return to school, and future planning, I will continue to push for the District to provide clear, timely, and transparent information and opportunities for engagement as we work to meet the needs of our families and school communities. 


Onward,