Los Angeles public school campuses will be closed until at least May 1 in response to the widening COVID-19 pandemic, officials announced Monday, energizing a costly scramble to move instruction online for an extended period, provide computers and free internet to the needy and ramp up meal distribution.
By staying closed until May, the nation鈥檚 second-largest school system is aligned closely with a recommendation from Debra Duardo, head of the L.A. County Education Office, which provides oversight for local school systems. There appears to be broad compliance with Duardo鈥檚 timetable among the county鈥檚 80 districts. About 1.5 million students are enrolled in Los Angeles Unified and county public school districts.
鈥淚 wish I could start by telling you it will all be back to normal sometime soon,鈥 said L.A. Unified schools Supt. Austin Beutner in a video statement Monday morning. 鈥淏ut that is not the case.鈥
