{"id":14382,"date":"2020-04-16T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=14382"},"modified":"2022-10-09T07:00:20","modified_gmt":"2022-10-09T11:00:20","slug":"l-a-area-schools-service-providers-try-to-help-students-during-coronavirus-shutdowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/l-a-area-schools-service-providers-try-to-help-students-during-coronavirus-shutdowns\/","title":{"rendered":"L.A. Area Schools, Service Providers Try to Help Students During Coronavirus Shutdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has disrupted daily life across the country. In Los Angeles, restaurants, entertainment venues and schools have all closed to prevent the spread of the virus. That includes the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the United States with more than 734,000 students in the system.<\/p>\n

Of those, more than 17,000 are homeless, according to the district’s reporting. These students rely on schools<\/a> for stable sources of food, shelter and programs during the year.<\/p>\n

With the entire school district shut down due to the pandemic, service providers and the district are scrambling to try and make sure students are not abandoned during this crisis. It is an ongoing and escalating challenge, particularly as the school closures lengthen.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This week, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner announced schools will remain closed through June 12, which is the end of the 2019-2020 school year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe remainder of the school year will be completed in the current, remote fashion and we will hold summer school in a similar manner,\u201d Beutner said in an April 13 webcast update.<\/p>\n

Classes are currently taught remotely online, and students have access to supplemental online libraries and programming.<\/p>\n

The school district is maintaining food distribution centers for students to receive regular meals. Beutner said seven million meals have been provided. The district has also sent meals to the temporary homeless housing shelters set up by the city in response to the pandemic. In addition, LAUSD is still operating its hotline for students with mental or physical health needs.<\/p>\n

LA Students Most in Need<\/h3>\n

Last month, the district launched LA Students Most in Need, a program designed to aid students in need. (By LAUSD’s own admission, approximately 80 percent of its students are from families experiencing poverty.) An April 2 fundraiser raised $1,646,053 for the\u00a0 program, and will be used to provide meals and other supplies for students and their families. For the remainder of the school year, the district also plans to use the money to provide:<\/p>\n