On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, we were all confronted by the news about the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas – a predominantly Latinx city – where 19 children and 2 teachers were killed. This comes on the cusp of the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre. Gun violence is ubiquitous...
In the early stages of the pandemic, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools created a pilot program called Students Connected, which provides high-speed home internet at no cost to over 400 families in Watts, South LA, and Boyle Heights. Ensuring students have access to high-speed home internet has been a key priority for us because...
This month, the Los Angeles Unified School District will welcome Alberto Carvalho as the next superintendent of schools. As Carvalho prepares to run the nation’s second-largest school system, Los Angeles parents, education leaders, and advocates outlined what they believe should be Carvalho’s priorities. Ryan Smith, Chief External Officer, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools and Co-Chair...
Vaping among teenagers continues to skyrocket, and now school administrators are fighting back. On January 28, 2022, ABC7 News featured Santee Education Complex Principal Dr. Violeta Ruiz’s tireless work fighting illegal tobacco sales to minors. Dr. Ruiz ensures students’ safety and well-being by working with multiple agencies, parents, and students to make sure retailers in...
Federal and state student aid applications are lagging among California high school seniors. Still, Mendez High School in Boyle Heights is optimistic that it can build on previous success to make sure the majority of its seniors apply this year. The high school goes way above and beyond by setting early deadlines, messaging students on...
On November 10, 2021, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools announced the launch of a new $4-million college scholarship program that will help achieve the higher education aspirations of 80 Partnership students over the next eight years. Thanks to the generosity of philanthropist Jane Watkins, who established the Watkins Fellows program, 10 Partnership college-bound seniors...
On November 15, 2021, Sunrise Elementary School Assistant Teacher Ms. Rae Lopez and 8-year-old Ivan Lozano were featured on ABC during a segment about the school’s new mural honoring Kobe Bryant. Sunrise Elementary School is located in Boyle Heights and is one of 19 Partnership schools accelerating student achievement across LA Unified and beyond. In...
The Los Angeles Times and LAist featured Roosevelt High School’s football team for its first victory in over a decade against crosstown rival Garfield High School in the 86th installment of the East L.A. Classic. The return of the iconic football game brought a sense of hope for two communities devastated by the pandemic. With...
Now in the third consecutive school year impacted by the pandemic, educators and policymakers are grappling with how to respond to the needs of students who are English learners and their families. In spring 2021, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools joined LA Unified School District (LA Unified) staff in the Jefferson-South Central Community of...
On September 23, 2021, Roosevelt High School Band Director Erik Quintanilla was featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show for uplifting and improving the school’s music program. Thanks to Quintanilla, students who once had limited access to playable instruments and equipment are now learning the joys of music and how it can change their lives. Clarkson...
Partnership teachers Kendra Anderson and Erika Castaneda at 99th Street Elementary in Watts were honored by the TODAY show for going above and beyond to support their students. Like many educators, Anderson and Castaneda spend their own money on school supplies, including books and back-to-school products. The TODAY show surprised the dedicated teachers with a...
On June 26, 2021, LA Times Columnist Steve Lopez wrote, “She became a citizen one day and graduated near the top of her high school class the next.” The story highlights Pilar Diaz Bombino, a recent graduate of Jordan High School, one of 19 schools in the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ network. Pilar emigrated...
