Los Angeles: As wildfires continue to devastate parts of Los Angeles County, 16 school districts have announced closures for Thursday, according to the Office of Education. This includes the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the largest school district in California and the second-largest in the nation.
The decision to close schools comes in response to dangerous conditions created by a combination of wind, fire, and smoke. In a statement, LAUSD explained, “The confluence of factors — wind, fire, and smoke — have created dangerous, complex situations that present unsafe conditions for our school communities.”
LAUSD is currently evaluating whether classes will transition to remote learning on Friday, January 10.A decision will be shared by 4 p.m. local time today.
Among the 16 closed districts, four have already confirmed closures for Friday as well: Burbank Unified School District, Glendale Unified School District, La Canada Unified School District, and Pasadena Unified School District.
Los Angeles County has a total of 80 public school districts serving approximately 1.3 million students from elementary to high school. The safety of students and staff remains the top priority as these wildfires continue to pose significant threats to the community.
Parents and students are encouraged to stay informed through their respective school district’s communication channels for updates and further instructions.
