Union employees in the Los Angeles Unified School District started a three-day strike over wages Tuesday, forcing the closure of hundreds of schools and impacting hundreds of thousands of families.
The school district and Los Angeles County have announced multiple resources to help parents.
LAUSD Resources
Student Supervision: Free student supervision will be provided at select elementary, middle and high schools from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the three-day strike period. A complete list of the schools offering can be found here.
Meal Pickup: Families can also pick up meals for students at Grab & Go locations on Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The district will give out six meals per student to cover breakfast and lunch over the next three days.
Other Resources: LAUSD parents can check the district website for real-time updates on the strike and learn about more available resources.
Los Angeles County
After-School Programs: Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday that she authorized select parks and recreation centers to act as after-school program centers for LAUSD parents.
The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will have 30 recreation centers open for elementary school students in first to fifth grade from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from March 21- 23. Parents can register for the after-school program online beginning at 1 p.m.
A complete list of the recreation centers offering the after-school program can be found online.
The website stated that the centers would only be open if LAUSD employees went on strike.
L.A. Zoo: The L.A. Zoo will offer free admission to LAUSD students and a “Community Safari Day” for elementary students during the three-day strike period. To receive the free admission, students must show a “school identification card, report card, school newsletter, or similar proof of enrollment,” a news release said.
Tickets must be purchased at the L.A. Zoo box office to receive complimentary admission.
L.A. Public Library: Besides its regular scheduled events for kids and teens, county libraries will offer many digital resources, including online tutoring and homework help, e-books and access to digital movies, music and more during the strike period.
Through its Tech2Go program, libraries will also be loaning out laptops and Wi-fi hotspots for those who need it.
A Family Hotline is also available for information and updates. Call (213) 443-1300 between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.