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Family Survey Highlights Needs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2020
CONTACT: Shannon Haber, (213) 393-1289
Family Survey Highlights Needs
- 75% satisfied with Los Angeles Unified response to COVID-19
- Survey highlights needs in the communities Los Angeles Unified serves
LOS ANGELES – MAY 18, 2020 – Superintendent Austin Beutner released today the results of a survey of families in East Los Angeles taken in early May. More than 12,000 families participated in the survey.
Highlights Include:
-- Overall: 75% of families feel Los Angeles Unified has done a good job responding to the crisis.
-- Technology: About ½ have the necessary equipment and feel reasonably knowledgeable about the technology being used.
-- Instruction: 80% have been in contact with their child’s teacher.
75% feel schools are doing a good job of providing learning materials and instruction.
-- Family circumstance: 57% of families lost jobs as a result of COVID-19.
Los Angeles Unified has been working to address the issues raised by the survey.
-- Town Halls have been held in 35 communities and every school principal has held school meetings with families.
-- Just about every student has been provided with a device and internet access, if needed.
-- Educators are participating in training about online instruction.
-- Help for families is available at 213-443-1300.
“It’s important we listen to families and keep working to address their needs. Providing devices and internet access is just the beginning and we’ll continue to train educators, students and families how to get the most out of online learning,” Superintendent Beutner commented. “Job losses and the impact on families is a stark reminder of how real the struggle is in the communities we serve. We will continue to do all we can to help.”
“This current moment in time requires us to be hyper-vigilant in our communication and connection tactics with our students and families as we deliver instructional content virtually,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “We know that supporting the health and wellbeing of our students is a critical component to their continued success.”
“While grateful for every effort to serve our community during this crisis,” Board Member Mónica García said, “we must work with our state leaders to create permanent access to technology and connectivity immediately as the majority of our students are the children of essential workers or workers who have lost their jobs. They deserve our undivided attention to create avenues for learning under these extended stay-at-home orders.”
“Los Angeles Unified staff has worked diligently every single day to ensure all our students and families have the right tools to continue with online instruction such as devices, books, internet access, and warm meals,” Board Member Scott M. Schmerelson said. “Although there have been some challenges, we will continue to work with our families and communities as well as teachers to address the needs of our most vulnerable populations and help them in any way we can.”
“As we face this unprecedented crisis, feedback from our families is more important than ever to ensure our students are connected and learning,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “The results of this survey are encouraging, but also underscore the ways that we must strengthen our program to reach all students.”
“We have worked to make sure 100% of our students have received devices and internet access,” Local District East Superintendent Jose Huerta said. “We continue to make sure that students are accessing learning everyday and connecting with their amazing teachers.”
“The results of the survey confirmed that we are on the right track in providing support for our students and families,” Local District East Administrator of Instruction Frances Baez said. “We help families with information about online learning, as well as resources for financial assistance, information on food relief efforts and ways to meet every day needs to be safe while learning.”
The survey and results are at lausd.net.
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