News Update

L.A. Unified assigns 4,000 admin employees to staff classrooms next week amid rising Covid rates

About 4,000 administrative employees at Los Angeles Unified are ready to staff classrooms, cafeterias, and other positions at school campuses when the district begins the new semester amid another surge in Covid-19 cases, according to a district spokesperson. The number of positive Covid-19 tests significantly increased in the last 24 hours as more test results have been added to the district’s data dashboard, indicating a rising number of educators and staff who might be quarantined when students return to campus on Jan. 11.

Staff and teachers are required to get a negative test result by Jan. 10 so they can be on campus. Teachers return on Monday and students on Tuesday.  Reflecting the increased testing underway, of over 250,000 tests administered to students and staff by the end of the day on Wednesday, at least 18,000  or 7.2% were positive for coronavirus. One day prior, 6,940 or 4% of 170,000 tests were positive.

On Friday, dozens of campuses across the district were handing out free at-home coronavirus tests in an attempt to ensure every student and staff member is tested before the semester begins. Free tests will also be available for pick-up at select locations on Saturday, in addition to the district’s stationary testing centers being open for extended hours on Saturday.