Los Angeles County officials have opened the door for students with disabilities and English language learners to return to campus for small, in-person classes. This is a much-needed and greatly welcomed opportunity for the children and families our organizations serve. We have seen firsthand how distance learning disproportionately underserves Black and Latino students. Los Angeles Unified should follow the county’s guidance and safely open for special populations as soon as possible to avoid any further learning loss for our most vulnerable students. Long before the COVID-19 crisis, public education has systematically failed our highest-need students. We recognize that the health and safety of our children comes first. But we also recognize that distance learning is at best inconsistent. At worst, it is failing our most vulnerable students during these unprecedented times. There is a reason why county public health officials have prioritized these populations: meeting their educational needs is an urgent public health issue and time is of the essence. The stakes […]
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