LAUSD Kicks Off the Second Semester for the 2025-26 School Year
LAUSD Kicks Off Second Semester with Optimism and Safety Protocols
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) officials marked the beginning of the second semester for the 2025-26 school year on Monday, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining safe environments for students and parents.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho highlighted the district’s achievements in academic performance, stating that students have surpassed pre-pandemic levels and set new records in reading and math, as indicated by the Smarter Balanced State Assessment. "Students made significant improvement across all grade levels and subject areas, mainly reading, math, and science," he noted.
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the district’s progress during his State of the State address. Carvalho expressed pride in the district’s accelerated improvements, stating, "This is a point of pride for our entire school district, the fact that we improved in reading and math at a faster rate than the entire state of California, despite the challenges we have faced." This remark was made during a news conference at 96th Elementary School in Watts, which has seen a reduction in chronic absenteeism year over year.
As the new semester begins, Carvalho conveyed a renewed sense of optimism, underscoring the importance of ensuring that schools remain safe havens. "During the first semester, we saw across our community a deep impact on our schools—immigration raids that have created fear in every single neighborhood where we have schools," he said. "We repudiate: We reject that climate of fear. It has no place in our community."
In response to a rise in immigration enforcement actions, LAUSD introduced new safety measures at the start of the academic year. These include the establishment of "safe zones" to facilitate safe passage for students and patrols of volunteers monitoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Additionally, new bus routes are available for parents to ensure extra safeguards.
Carvalho affirmed the district’s stance on student safety, stating, "We do not allow any law enforcement entity to walk into our schools and take any type of action against a student, parent, or employee without a signed judicial warrant." He reiterated that this policy has been in place since last year and will continue.
Scott Schmerelson, president of the LAUSD Board of Education, echoed the superintendent’s sentiments. "We know that every student has the right, both morally and constitutionally, to a quality education, and we will make sure that happens," he emphasized.
Schmerelson also reminded families of the resources available for those in need. "Anyone who is in need of mental health treatment or counseling, please contact LAUSD. Do our students need counseling? Do they need tutoring? Do families need legal help with their immigration status?" he offered, inviting community members to engage with the district, aiming to make 2026 a positive year for all involved.
