FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexandria Castellanos
Email: a.castellanos@lausd.net
Phone: (213) 608-5897
LA Unified Board Adopts Resolution to Support Families and Protect Children
LOS ANGELES, CA (APRIL 08, 2025) — The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education has adopted a resolution to implement a mandated supporting protocol aimed at prioritizing compassion, equity, and support for children facing potential abuse or neglect.
Currently, more than 80% of calls to the LA County Child Protection Hotline come from mandated reporters, yet only 16% of those reports are substantiated, raising critical questions about the system’s effectiveness and equity. In particular, Black children are disproportionately impacted, accounting for 19% of reports while representing just 7.7% of the county’s population.
In response, Los Angeles Unified is aligning with recent state legislation that refines general neglect, ensuring that conditions of poverty– such as school absences due to housing insecurity, lack of transportation, or access to food and health care–are met with supportive resources than reports to child welfare services. As part of this effort, the board also declared April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month— reaffirming its commitment to raising awareness, supporting families, and promoting prevention through care.
“Importantly, this resolution calls for a cultural shift from ‘mandated reporting’ to ‘mandated supporting’ and commits the district to revising our child abuse policies and trainings to be trauma-informed, equity-focused and connected to resources,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “While our educators and staff are trained as mandated reporters to protect our students, data shows that reporting alone isn’t always effective or equitable. By understanding student and family needs more deeply, we can support our constituents more compassionately and contribute to long-term positive change for kids and communities.”
“At Los Angeles Unified, we don’t just educate children—we nurture them, protect them, and honor their humanity every single day,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Our goal is to create schools where every student feels safe, respected, and genuinely valued—and where families in need are met not with judgment, but with compassion and support. We are deeply committed to going beyond mere compliance, fostering a culture of care, and ensuring that no child is ever left behind or overlooked.”
"There are so many positive consequences from ensuring our work with students is trauma-informed, equity-focused, and resource-connected, that we must not hesitate for a moment to ensure all our policies and training meet these requirements,” Board President Scott M. Schmerelson said.
Los Angeles Unified District 2 Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas emphasized the importance of safeguarding children stating, “Every child deserves to be safe, seen, and supported. It is our collective responsibility to protect all children from harm—without bias and without delay.”
“It is important as mandated reporters that we lead with compassion, recognizing and prioritizing the well-being of the child, ensuring trust and support, and recognizing the complexities of family dynamics,” Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill said.
“We’re committed to moving beyond compliance toward a more compassionate, trauma-informed approach that keeps children safe and supports families with dignity,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “By recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention Month and updating our policies, we’re working to reduce disparities and ensure every child feels supported and protected.”
“Creating awareness around child abuse and understanding its disproportionate impacts on students of color are necessary steps to ensuring the safety of our students in and out if the classroom,” Board Member Karla Griego said.
“Our schools are critical lifelines for all students, and our most important responsibility is the safety of our students,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “This resolution will better enable us to ensure every student and family gets the trauma-informed support and resources that they need.”
Board Member Ortiz Franklin is a member of the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education representing Board District 7, where she was previously a student, teacher, teacher-educator and advocate. She is committed to ensuring all students graduate fully prepared to thrive in the college, career and life of their choice. Los Angeles Unified Board District 7 includes the diverse communities of South Los Angeles, Watts, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington and San Pedro.
For more information about Board District 7, visit us at https://achieve.lausd.net/bd7 or follow us on social media: Instagram (@lausdbd7), Facebook (@lausdbd7), Twitter(X) (@lausdbd7).
