Dear Friends,
As many communities head back to school, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share some resources available to ensure students and parents have the tools and tricks they need to succeed. AT&T has affordable Wi-Fi and free installation for families who are distance learning. For those navigating new technology, Los Angeles Unified School District has a tech hotline available at (213) 443-1300 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday to answer questions. They also have a student and family wellness line at (213) 241-3840 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday to provide support for mental health, immunizations, health insurance, food, housing, enrollment, and more.
Our Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health has incredible, comprehensive resources for families who need extra support as they start this semester as well. The Los Angeles County Library has digital homework help and tutoring available for any student who needs guidance, whether you’re a kindergartner, an adult learner, or anywhere in between.
Some of our local school districts are making creative back to school videos to celebrate students. Palmdale School District began their first day by inviting students from across the city to gather on one video call. Brightwood Elementary in Alhambra also made a sweet video montage with the help of the PTA. Plus, Alhambra Unified is hosting a Community Conversations series in September and October to share about priorities and problem solving for the school year.
There are also resources for teens and adults. I recently participated in College of the Canyons’ virtual career summit, which provided great information for students preparing for the workforce and shared about opportunities for county careers. You can still watch the summit and learn about those resources. And, it’s never been a better time to head to college in your own community. As a graduating high school senior or first-time, full-time college student of any age in Los Angeles County, your admission to any Los Angeles Community College District school is guaranteed for two years with free tuition. Take a look at the enrollment welcome kit to learn more about this incredible opportunity.
While this year has held so much uncertainty, we can say for sure that our students are being cared for and supported by parents, teachers, districts, and community organizations. Together, we will make this a season where students thrive.
