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"In (the) state of California, only half of students are at grade-level in reading, and even fewer are in math.

When a crisis goes on long enough, it is no longer a crisis. It is merely a fact.” -The Atlantic, March 2021

A quality education is a right, not a privilege. It should not be defined by our race, religion, political affiliation, or economic status. The COVID pandemic has pulled the curtain back on the public school system and exposed it for all its failures, both new and ongoing. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has allowed political agendas to take precedence over the educational needs of more than 600,000 students. Behind closed doors, LAUSD continues to make decisions that directly impact the lives and futures of these students.

California Students United (CSU) is a grassroots parent-led campaign working to ensure that parents and students

are given a seat at the table when it comes to decision-making that affects educational policy.

The time has come to translate “Kids First” from a sound bite to a civil right!

Our Mission

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CDC Updates Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools to Reflect New Evidence on Physical Distance in Classrooms

Judge rules in favor of North County San Diego parents suing over school reopening rules

In elementary schools, CDC recommends all students remain at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal — regardless of whether community transmission is low, moderate, substantial, or high.

In middle and high schools, CDC also recommends students should be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal and in communities where transmission is low, moderate, or substantial.

"Safe in-person instruction gives our kids access to critical social and mental health services that prepare them for the future, in addition to the education they need to succeed. These updated recommendations provide the evidence-based roadmap to help schools reopen safely, and remain open, for in-person instruction.”

- Rochelle P. Wolensky, CDC Director

age here

On March 15, 2021, Superior Court Judge Cynthia A. Freeland issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in A.A. v. Newsom, et al, a lawsuit brought by several students against six school districts in San Diego County, Gov. Gavin Newsom and key members of his COVID-19 response team (“State Defendants”). The students challenged the constitutionality of the reopening framework and guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health on Jan. 14.

“With the mental health effects resulting from [or being exacerbated by] remote learning, one can conclude that disparate treatment being experienced by children affected by the January 2021 Framework is depriving those same children of a fundamental benefit of education."

-Supreme Court Judge Cynthia Freeland

But Obviously LAUSD/Beutner (or UTLA?) Know Better...

Recent CDC guidelines suggest that the spacing of desks 3 feet apart as opposed to 6 feet in school classrooms might be appropriate in certain situations. This doesn’t help address the challenge facing schools in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles.

There are plenty of seats in classrooms that remain empty in New York and Chicago. And putting more desks in the room won’t convince families that schools are safe.

Much more important is to align federal, state and local health standards and make sure schools operate at these standards. Health authorities also need to make their guidelines clear and consistent and then take the time to properly explain them to the families we serve. Working families aren’t logging on to the CDC website every day to find out the latest changes like they might check box scores at a Dodgers game.

Standards which change, seemingly by the day or week, won’t help build public trust. And families won’t necessarily believe schools are safe just because a few politicians say schools should be open.

Schools need to be open as the best learning for most students happens in a school classroom. We’ve known that for a year. What we need now is for all who think schools should be open to join us in the hard work to make sure schools are open in the safest way possible. And they need to help explain to families that children will be safe and will learn best while at school.

We’ve also announced a plan for middle and high school students in our schools, admittedly with some limitations.