State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues Statement Regarding LAUSD School Closures
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today due to a threat of violence that closed all K-12 public schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District:
“I support the actions taken by the Los Angeles Unified School district and law enforcement officials to keep students safe. Creating and maintaining a safe environment for students, teachers, parents, administrators, and classified employees is our top priority.
“I urge schools and districts to check their school safety plans to make sure they are up to date. The California Department of Education stands ready to assist school districts in enhancing and improving their safety plans. We have a variety of available resources for districts, including on our Web site.”
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The CDE Safe Schools Planning Web page includes the School Safety Plan Self-Monitoring Tool designed to assist a school site in creating a comprehensive, compliant school safety plan. The CDE School Safety Elements and ResourcesWeb page is intended to help schools identify elements and resources important in improving school climate and safety.
Torlakson said he has directed his staff to work with the Los Angeles Unified School District so it can qualify for relief from loss of Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funds. Local educational agencies may also receive ADA credit for all purposes and instructional time credit for the days and minutes lost due to an emergency closure. ADA credit and approval of school closures may be obtained by submitting three copies of Form J-13A (DOC).
For more guidance on ADA credit, visit the California Department of Education's Management Advisory 90-01 - AttendanceWeb page.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100