In his address ahead of the new school year, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvahlo discussed obstacles that have had to be overcome, including immigration raids and the deadly wildfires Tuesday morning.

Carvalho gave his Opening of Schools address at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA. Before he took the stage, there were several musical performances by students, including a mariachi rendition of the national anthem as a way to recognize the rich Latino culture of LA.

He explained that even though the first half of the year proved to be one of the most trying times for Southern California, the district remains unified and committed to entering the new school year stronger. 

The superintendent also took time to highlight new initiatives the district will be implementing as more than 400,000 students return to campuses across the LA area.

Fear of immigration raids in LAUSD communities

Carvahlo's address comes after weeks of ramped-up immigration enforcement operations across the Los Angeles region, which prompted fear in the school community.

"Across the District, our schools faced what no learning community should — immigration raids, helicopters overhead, agents near school gates, and fear in our classrooms," Carvalho said.

On Tuesday, Carvalho said the district will not stand by fear and will let the "cruelty of immigration raids define the schoolhouse." He emphasized that every student, regardless of birthplace or legal status, deserves dignity and the opportunity to a successful future.

During graduation season, parents stayed home instead of attending their children's ceremonies due to the ICE raids. Carvalho reassured the district that schools and school-related events remained a safe place for students and said staff have been trained on how to respond if federal agents did show up.

In April, agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were denied entry at two LAUSD elementary schools, according to a district spokesperson. The agents said they were conducting "wellness checks" on children who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border alone.

Even though the LAUSD confirmed the agents were not conducting an immigration operation, Carvalho praised Maria Gomez and Alejandra Miramontes, principals of Lillian Street and Russell Elementary, for protecting their students.

"You protected innocent children from a fear they should never know," he said. "You followed your conscience, and because of your courage, those students went home safely."

He explained that he came to the U.S. as an undocumented boy seeking a chance and the opportunity to make something of himself.

He said the LAUSD will continue to be a sanctuary for immigrants because they are "not a threat."

Wildfire recovery in LAUSD communities

Carvalho honored all of the first responders, crews and staff who helped during the deadly wildfires from January. He said on Jan. 7, the LAUSD quickly jumped into action, coordinating evacuations, calling families and partnering with officials once the Palisades Fire erupted.

"I'll never forget sitting alone at 3 a.m., watching exhausted firefighters battle hurricane-force winds. It would be natural to feel hopeless," he said. "But what followed was extraordinary."

He said since the fires, the LAUSD Education Foundation raised nearly $8 million to support students, families and schools.

Carvalho said the district is still in the process of recovering, but progress is being made. The LAUSD is retrofitting campuses to "meet the realities of climate change."

He explained that new air quality sensors are being installed to give schools real-time data to detect dangerous conditions. The advanced monitors in a centralized command hub will allow for more rapid and informed decisions.

"When the next crisis comes – and it will –our schools will be safer, smarter, and more prepared," Carvalho said. 

New initiatives

Carvalho promoted several new initiatives that the LAUSD will be implementing, including district-wide programs, upgrading infrastructure and access.

He said the district will be installing new shade shelters at schools to make outdoor learning safer, increasing dual language programs at nine Early Education Centers, launching the iMatter Mental Health Campaign and Homebase Healing initiative and including new micro-credentialing opportunities in Secondary Literacy and LGBTQ+ Supportive Education.

"Los Angeles Unified is showing what it looks like when a district refuses to settle for average. Because our students deserve excellence," the superintendent said. "Our educators deserve excellence. And our communities expect nothing less."

Historic test scores

Carvalho said that despite all the challenges that plagued the region and schools, the LAUSD "achieved its highest-ever academic performance in the history of the Smarter Balanced Assessment."

He added that for the first time ever, 11th-grade students on average exceeded the standard in literacy. He continued by saying across all grade levels and subjects, students scored double-digit gains in distance from standard.

"It wasn't just a bounce back from the pandemic," Carvalho said. "It was better than last year, better than pre-pandemic – better than we've ever seen."

He also highlighted other achievements the district has accomplished, including Grover Cleveland Charter High School Humanities Magnet, being named the Best Magnet School in the U.S. by Magnet Schools of America.