Here are five things to watch for in LAUSD for the new school year

When Los Angeles Unified students return for the first day of the new school year on Monday, Aug. 15, one of the first things they’ll notice is their ability to walk straight onto campus without having to flash a QR code, obtained after completing a health check screening on the district’s Daily Pass web application, in order to gain admittance.

The district has ditched that policy, which was in effect last year, and loosened other COVID-19 protocols for the 2022-23 school year.

But revisions to L.A. Unified’s pandemic-related measures isn’t the only change students, families and staff can expect in the new school year, which will begin with a projected enrollment of 520,000 students, including students in charter schools, and a properly credentialed teacher in each classroom, according to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

That doesn’t necessarily mean every classroom will have a permanent teacher in place, however.

It was unclear how many classroom teaching vacancies remained on Friday, Aug. 12, though the superintendent had said on Monday that there were fewer than 200 vacancies, and that more than 500 out-of-classroom employees with teaching credentials were ready to fill those spots temporarily if need be.

“I guarantee to this community on Aug. 15, every single student will have a remarkable teacher in front of them,” he had said on Monday.

So what can students, parents and staff look for in the new school year?

From enhanced campus security measures and more early education programs, to the rollout of electric school buses and new cafeteria menu items, below is a rundown of some changes and new initiatives awaiting the LAUSD community.

COVID-19 protocols

No more weekly coronavirus testing and non more regular Daily Pass check-ins are perhaps the two most obvious examples of scaled-back COVID-19 restrictions this year. Additionally, indoor masking, while highly recommended, remains optional, just like in this past spring.

Instead of weekly testing, the district has switched to “response testing,” meaning only individuals with symptoms or who were exposed to an infected person will have to be tested.

And for anyone still wondering, the district’s student vaccination mandate has been put on hold at least until next July, in line with the state’s plan to implement its own vaccine mandate.

Campus safety

The deadly mass May shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, less than three months ago is not far from some people’s minds as the new school year begins. A day after the shooting, Carvalho announced plans to expand its safety procedures, review its communication protocols and invest in technology to enhance campus security.

This week, he said that over the summer, the district drafted agreements with 13 municipal agencies to provide “augmented safety and security” in schools.

Additionally, the district has committed millions of dollars toward beefing up security, including installing security cameras, setting up the ability to remotely activate doors and gates, and launching an application to rapidly alert law enforcement and first responders during emergencies in schools. LAUSD has reduced the number of entry points onto campuses and provided law enforcement and paramedics with campus maps, he said.

Early education

Up to 19,000 additional 4-year-olds will get to start school in L.A. Unified in 2022-23, thanks to state funding to expand early education programs.

In LAUSD, officials have invested $71.3 million to open 360 new “universal transitional kindergarten” classrooms.

Universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) classes, meant for students too young for traditional kindergarten, are designed to prepare these youngsters for their eventual enrollment in kindergarten. Statewide, students who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and Feb. 2 this school year are guaranteed eligibility to apply for UTK, though some districts may choose to admit younger children as well.

School busing

More students will be eligible for free transportation this coming year, thanks to a pilot program that will allow students to catch a ride to and from school even if they live less than 5 miles from campus – the distance the district has historically used.

The program is being rolled out in certain neighborhoods which officials have determined are unsafe for kids to walk to and from school due to higher rates of violence, robbery, theft, gang activity or similar incidents.

“This is a pilot program that goes well beyond the 5-mile guarantee of free transportation for students, meaning it could be a distance of a half a mile, a mile. But it is a dangerous mile,” Carvalho said to reporters last month.

In addition to addressing safe passages to schools, the district spent the summer outfitting all of its buses with wifi so that students with long commutes are able to study or work on homework while on the bus.

The district is also starting off the school year with 11 new electric buses that are better for the environment. The plan is to ultimately replace its entire fleet – numbered at 1,255 buses – with electric vehicles. In 2019, the school board adopted a resolution committing the district to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2040.

Cafeteria food

If your child is a picky eater, the district is hoping its plans to roll out tastier – yet healthy – cafeteria menu items will be met with approval.

The district is resuming regular taste-testing events with students to try out new recipes, including ethnic cuisines.

Improving cafeteria food is part of L.A. Unified’s strategic plan, which calls for elevating school nutrition by providing “fresher, healthier, and more appealing options informed by family and student feedback.”