LA County school districts no longer require union, parent support when applying for waivers to reopen

Schools in Los Angeles County no longer need to have support from teachers and other employees when they apply for waivers to reopen elementary schools.

Previously, when applying for those waivers, schools and districts in the county have been required to include a letter of support from unions or groups representing teachers and other school employees. The county’s Department of Public Health informed school leaders on Thursday that it would be dropping that requirement, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Districts have also needed to submit letters of support from parent groups, but that requirement is also being dropped.

Alex Cherniss, superintendent of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, said in an email to EdSource the changes are “welcoming news” for public schools.

“The prior waiver system benefited families that can afford private and independent schools, of which over 90% of the waiver applications were submitted,” Cherniss said. “Now, public schools can show proof of consultation with teachers and parents and move forward with submitting the application. This is what we have been advocating all along and it is encouraging that cooler heads have prevailed.”

However, some districts may continue to negotiate with their unions before considering whether to apply for waivers. That includes Long Beach Unified, the county’s second biggest school district that enrolls more than 70,000 students.