Virtual Graduation For LAUSD Seniors, Expect Online School Summer

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — If you have school-age children at home, prepare to keep them there through the end of the year, the Los Angeles Unified School District says. Children will continue distance learning through the remainder of the school year, but worrying if they will be able to pass their classes shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Superintendent Austin Beutner issued a statement, Monday, saying: No one will receive failing grades for the spring semester; campus closures will continue through the summer.

"Students can work to improve their grades," Beutner said, adding that the district will not penalize those with technical difficulties. "Those who may not have had access to technology or may be experiencing difficulties at home," Beutner said, explaining why students won't see their existing grades drop.

What about the class of 2020? With LAUSD schools closed for nearly a month, Beutner said the district is working on holding a virtual graduation for high school seniors this year, but district officials are gathering input from students on how they'd like to proceed.

Summer classes will also be held online in four-week blocks. Beutner said he would give an update on those programs soon.

Beutner also said LAUSD is working with community colleges to help students get from high school to college, so they do not miss any critical credits they need.

"We will not allow the closure of school facilities to close the doors of opportunity for young adults earning a high school diploma and starting college can provide for them," Beutner said. "We're trying to find a balance between helping students continue to learn, and the sometimes harsh realities the crisis is bringing to the lives to so many of the students and families we serve."

Beutner said the district has been working with Amazon to improve online connections for students on specific platforms, as the original software was not built to handle 500,000 students using it at once.

The superintendent said they had fund-raised nearly $4.5 million to help provide meals for families through its Grab and Go program, which has amounted to more than 7 million provided since schools were closed.

People can text NEED to 76278 or visit www.lastudentsmostinneed.org to donate and for more information.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig, contributed to this report.