Los Angeles Unified aims younger as it expands recruitment

As enrollment rates continue to decline, Los Angeles Unified is looking to recruit early. A partnership with L.A. County-USC Medical Center is targeting newborns as the district looks toward future students. 

At the hospital, families will receive congratulations letters from the district along with instructions on how to enroll, information on support services and a bit of swag to get parents excited about their child’s educational journey and to encourage them to attend LAUSD.

The district is aiming to enroll 100 babies each month and will soon expand the initiative to other hospitals.

The move comes as LAUSD continues to struggle with a steep decline in enrollment exacerbated by the pandemic. The district enrolls 422,000 students, down from its peak two decades ago at 700,000. It’s the latest step among district efforts to address enrollment as the district subsequently deals with enrollment’s impact on funding.