Book lovers have a new way to explore Los Angeles this summer. The inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl will take place July 24–26 at independent bookstores across the region for a weekend celebrating local booksellers, neighborhood discovery and literary community.

From Manhattan Beach to Montrose, 13 independent bookstores are joining forces to create this unforgettable weekend for L.A. bibliophiles. Events will take place during each bookstore’s regular store hours (check website for information). This special event, modeled after popular book crawls in San Diego and Seattle, is an invitation for readers to explore the diversity of L.A.’s indie bookstores, shop local and have fun while discovering a new favorite read and a new favorite spot to get properly lost in. The event is free and open to everyone.

How the Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl works

Find a new favorite book, make some friends and become a Los Angeles expert as you traverse our local literary landscape. To participate, visit any one of the bookstores anytime between July 24–26 — and make your first purchase of at least $10. From there, you will receive your Book Crawl Passport and first passport stamp.

Then, visit the next bookstore (in no particular order) and make a purchase of $10 or more at each stop. Many prizes and exclusive merchandise are available at every store. Hit as many as you can: The more you visit, the more prizes you accrue. and the more of L.A.’s diverse and welcoming literary scene you get to explore.

Each store has listed its most iconic Los Angeles landmarks as well as neighborhood gems you can add to your L.A. book crawl itinerary.

Grand prize for visiting every store

People who get their passports stamped at all 13 stores will receive a goodie bag full of fun bookish treats including the grand prize: $25 gift cards at each store, totaling $325 in value.

Why independent bookstores matter

“Independent bookstores are having a resurgence,” says Jennifer Caspar, founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee, an independent bookstore and café located in downtown Culver City and opened in 2020. “They are the third places people need more than ever in this era of digital optimization, which can be very alienating and lead to loneliness. 

“People still like to browse, touch and see physical books and hang out in stores that are third places, where community and culture — and sometimes coffee! — meet,” she said. “We are modeling our event after the highly popular San Diego Book Crawl and are thrilled that so many great stores are joining together to explore L.A.’s literary scene.”

Supporting independent bookstores in Los Angeles sustains the city’s diverse culture, keeps money in the local economy and provides vital spaces to read, work and be in community with others. Indie shops, the backbone of L.A.’s literary and culture ecosystem, offer human-curated recommendations and serve as essential hubs for local authors, book clubs and grassroots civic engagement.

Visit 13 Independent Bookstores Across Los Angeles

Annabelle’s Book Club LA (Studio City)

The Book Jewel (in the heart of Westchester)

Book Soup, bookseller to the great and famous (West Hollywood)

Chevalier’s Books (Larchmont Village)

Children’s Book World & CBW Teens & Adults (West Los Angeles)

diesel, A Book Store (Santa Monica)

Malik Books (Culver City)

Once Upon A Time, America’s Oldest Children’s Bookstore (Montrose)

pages: a bookstore (Manhattan Beach)

The Ripped Bodice, A Romantic Bookstore (Culver City)

Skylight Books (Hollywood/Los Feliz)

Village Well Books & Coffee (Culver City)

Vroman’s Bookstore (Pasadena)

Plan your book crawl

For hours, location, a description of each store and their event schedules for the weekend, visit laindiebookcrawl.com/about-5.

For more information on the crawl, visit laindiebookcrawl.com and follow on Instagram (@laindiebookcrawl) for updates.

Participants are encouraged to use public transit whenever possible to visit any or all of the bookstores. Check this custom transit map for information on Los Angeles Metro and bus accessibility.

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Families in Irvine now have a new option for early childhood education. The Crème School has opened its first California location, The Crème School of Great Park, offering research-based preschool programs, enrichment experiences and modern learning spaces designed to support children’s growth ages 2 and up.

Located in Irvine’s growing Great Park neighborhood, the school will serve nearly 200 children. It introduces Crème’s newest school design, the first of its kind, featuring modern learning environments, elevated family amenities and personalized educational experiences designed to support every stage of a child’s development.

The Crème School of Great Park also offers signature enrichment opportunities and thoughtfully designed classroom spaces that encourage exploration, creativity and collaboration. These high-quality early learning environments combine research-based curriculum, hands-on discovery and enrichment opportunities that help children build academic, social and emotional skills.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Crème experience to California families,” said Stephanie Sturdevant-Ward, vice president of operations for The Crème Schools. “The Crème School of Great Park is redefining child care with innovative learning spaces, personalized experiences and enriching opportunities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and help children thrive.”

The Crème Learning Approach brings together engaging, research-based curriculum, exceptional teachers and enhanced educational experiences to support joyful, meaningful learning each day, school officials said. It emphasizes executive function skills, including attention, memory, flexible thinking, collaboration and emotional regulation, helping children build confidence and strong foundations for success in school and in life. Crème’s proprietary curriculum enables students to focus on skills that complement its signature enrichments. Starting at age 2, children engage in daily 30-minute rotations and small-group lessons in STEM, music, art and Spanish.

The school’s opening marks a significant milestone in Crème’s national growth strategy as the company continues expanding its footprint of premium early childhood education schools across the U.S.

Families interested in learning more about The Crème School of Great Park can visit here.

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Nicole Noar has spent years with new moms as a nurse in maternal and infant care. As a SoCal mom herself, she’s well-versed in the overwhelming number of things new moms worry about. She wanted to ease some of that worry, especially when traveling. As the founder of Snuggle Shield, a patented infant cover with built-in air-filtering system, she’s committed to providing a sense of wellness and peace to parents.

I met Nicole at the All Baby & Child ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas this year and had the pleasure to chat with her recently about motherhood and starting a business. 

Tell us a little about your career before launching Snuggle Shield.

I spent more than 16 years as a registered nurse, including 13 years in Labor & Delivery at UC San Diego Health. During that time, I became a Certified Inpatient Obstetric Nurse (RNC-OB) and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), caring for thousands of mothers and babies during some of the most important moments of their lives. Today, I work as a fertility nurse in Reproductive Endocrinology at UC San Diego, helping individuals and families navigate their journey to parenthood. My nursing career gave me a firsthand understanding of the concerns new parents face, and becoming a mom inspired me to create the product I wished I had for my own family. My clinical background continues to guide every decision we make at Snuggle Shield.

What was the inspiration for Snuggle Shield?

My inspiration came from my first son, Deklan. When he was just six weeks old, I took him with me to a nail salon. As soon as I walked in, I was hit with the strong chemical fumes and noticed everyone around us was wearing masks. I immediately felt mom guilt because I realized the cover over his infant car seat wasn’t actually protecting him—it was giving me a false sense of security. When I got home, I searched everywhere for a product that could help filter the air around babies in public places, but nothing like it existed. As a nurse, my first thought was to use medical mask material because we know it works and we know it breathes well. That simple idea became the foundation for Snuggle Shield.

How would you describe the mission of your company?

Our mission is to give parents the confidence to safely explore the world with their babies from day one. We want families to feel comfortable getting out of the house, traveling and making memories together instead of feeling anxious about every outing. Our products provide added peace of mind while also serving multiple everyday purposes—from breastfeeding to infant car seat, stroller, shopping cart and highchair coverage. We believe parents deserve products that make everyday life easier while helping them enjoy these precious years with their little ones.

You are also a mom. Tell us how you balance family life with work and launching a business.

Balancing family life, nursing and building a business has definitely been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. I still work three days a week as a fertility nurse at UC San Diego Health, so I build Snuggle Shield around my family’s schedule—before work, after bedtime, and whenever I can find extra time. When I first started the company, my boys were babies, so I often worked during nap time. Now that they’re older, I try to be intentional about being present with them. They are the reason I started Snuggle Shield, and while balance isn’t always perfect, family will always come first.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There really isn’t a typical day—every day is a little bit crazy! Most mornings start with my husband, our two boys, our four chickens and our two rescue dogs before everyone heads off to school and work. On clinic days, I work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After work it’s dinner, homework, bedtime stories and family time. Once the kids are asleep, I usually switch over to Snuggle Shield for a few more hours of emails, meetings, product development or retailer projects. On my days off, I try to balance growing the business with making memories with my family, giving my husband some attention, and, if I’m lucky, squeezing in a Pilates class.

Do you have a mentor?

I don’t have one specific mentor, but I really admire Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. I love her authenticity, her sense of humor and the fact that she built her company from the ground up while staying true to herself. As a nurse, mom and entrepreneur, her journey reminds me that believing in your idea and persevering through setbacks can truly make a difference.

What’s the best life advice you’ve ever received?

‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ has always stayed with me. I lost my dad when I was nine years old and my mom when I was twenty. Those experiences were incredibly difficult, but they taught me resilience, perseverance and determination. I’ve never wanted my circumstances to define me or become an excuse. Instead, they’ve helped shape me into the strong, independent woman I am today and inspire me to help others through both nursing and Snuggle Shield.

What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever received?

‘The days are long, but the years are short.’ As a mom of two boys, now five and seven, that saying resonates with me more every year. Some days can feel never-ending, but then you look back and realize just how quickly childhood goes by. It reminds me to slow down, be present, give myself grace, and cherish every stage because these years pass so much faster than we ever expect.

When you’re not working, where can we find you?

In a perfect world, you’ll find me traveling with my family—especially in Hawaii, where my husband and I got married. At home, we love beach days, bike rides, lounging by the pool while the boys swim and play, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. We also make it a priority to sneak away for date nights and little getaways whenever we can because those moments together are just as important.

What are some of your favorite places in San Diego and Los Angeles?

Our family loves making memories together. In San Diego, you’ll usually find us at LEGOLAND, Ponto Beach, or relaxing by the pool while the boys swim. When we head to Los Angeles, Crossroads Kitchen is my favorite restaurant for brunch or dinner since I’m vegetarian. My husband is a chef, so we never miss a stop at Gjelina in Venice. We also love taking our boys to Disneyland and Universal Studios. Whether we’re traveling, trying a new restaurant, or simply spending the day together, those are the moments I treasure most.

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More than 100 birds have been rescued following the crude oil pipeline spill in East Los Angeles, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wildlife health experts are among the responders helping rehabilitate affected birds through the UC Davis-administered Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN).

Since late May, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Wildlife Care and Wildlife Health team members have deployed to assist with the rescue and rehabilitation effort. Their work has included stabilizing oiled birds with IV fluids, tube feedings and medications, collecting blood samples, washing birds and providing ongoing care as the animals recover.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is a statewide network of trained wildlife care providers, regulatory agencies, academic institutions and wildlife organizations that work together to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife impacted by oil spills. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is one of 24 partner organizations that responded to the spill.

To date, 131 visibly oiled birds have been rescued. Eighty-one have already been rehabilitated and released, while 24 remain in care.

Learn more at sdzwa.org.

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Kitten season doesn’t usually make people think of a grown man sitting cross-legged on a bathroom floor at 2 a.m., coaxing a kitten the size of a deck of cards to take a bottle. But that’s exactly what’s happening in homes across L.A. and Orange counties right now. And if you ask those men whether it counts as fatherhood, most of them say yes, it does.

We’re in the thick of kitten season. From spring through late summer, the pace at public shelters becomes relentless. Neonatal litters arrive without mothers. Young male cats, barely past kittenhood themselves, come in as strays. The need for people willing to open their homes and truly show up is greater right now than at any other point in the year.

With more than 16 years of leading CatPAWS, a nonprofit cat rescue and advocacy organization, I’ve watched all kinds of people answer that call. And some of the ones who surprised me most were the men.

Why Men Make Great Cat Foster Caregivers

There’s a quiet assumption that animal rescue skews a certain way — that it belongs to a particular kind of person. That assumption is wrong, and kitten season proves it every year.

The men who foster are some of the most grounded, capable caregivers I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. They learn quickly, stay calm when things get hard and figure out how to warm a kitten safely, how to read the signs that something is off and how to celebrate a small weight gain like it’s the best news they’ve heard all week.

There’s something genuinely moving about watching someone who came into this thinking it would be a minor commitment discovering that it changed something in them. That happens a lot with cat dads. 

What Kitten Season Really Looks Like

I’ll be straightforward, because I think that serves people better than painting an easy picture.

The youngest kittens — those in their first weeks of life without a mother —require a level of round-the-clock attention that is real and demanding: frequent feedings, careful monitoring, the kind of presence that doesn’t clock out. It’s not for everyone, and that’s completely fine to acknowledge.

But fostering isn’t one single thing. We also have young adult male cats who come in as strays, a little bit skittish, shut down, sometimes never having had a gentle hand near them. A big part of what we do is rehabilitating them: rebuilding their trust slowly, in a quiet foster home, until they’re ready for a permanent one. Those cats ask for very little from a foster. Mostly just consistency, and someone willing to sit with them while they figure out that the world can be safe.

Right now, we need both. And both matter enormously.

Why Spaying and Neutering Matters

Kitten season doesn’t just mean litters showing up without mothers. It also means young male cats arriving at shelters having already, unknowingly, started families of their own.

Getting those cats neutered before they’re adopted is one of the most practical, high-impact things we do. It’s quiet work; it doesn’t make for dramatic headlines. But it’s how you interrupt a cycle that otherwise keeps feeding itself: fewer unplanned litters next spring, fewer kittens in crisis, fewer families separated before they’ve had a chance to begin.

Our low-cost spay and neuter program serves cats across Los Angeles and Orange counties. We’ve always believed that pulling cats from shelters and preventing the next wave of overcrowding aren’t two separate missions — they’re the same one, running on a different timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kitten season and why does it matter? Kitten season runs roughly from spring through late summer, when warmer temperatures lead to a surge in cat births. Public shelters across Los Angeles and Orange counties see their intake numbers spike dramatically during this period, and neonatal kittens without mothers are among the hardest cases for under-resourced facilities to manage. That’s where foster caregivers become essential.

Do I need experience to foster a cat or kitten in Long Beach? No prior experience is required to foster most cats and kittens. Helen Sanders CatPAWS provides foster caregivers with supplies, food and full medical coverage, including veterinary visits and medications. Experienced fosters within the network are also available to guide newcomers through the process, from the first feeding to the final adoption handoff.

The exception is for the youngest bottle baby kittens, who require around-the-clock feedings and specialized care. Because of their unique needs, Helen Sanders CatPAWS requires prior bottle baby fostering experience for caregivers taking in these neonatal kittens.

What does Helen Sanders CatPAWS provide to foster caregivers? Fosters receive everything they need: food, supplies and all medical care for the animal in their home. You provide the space, transportation and the time. The organization handles the rest, including veterinary appointments and any specialist care a cat may need.

Can men foster cats? Is fostering only for certain types of people? Absolutely, and this is worth saying clearly. Foster caregivers come from every background. Some are retired, some are working parents and some are people who never considered themselves cat people until the right moment. The only thing that matters is the willingness to show up consistently for an animal that needs you.

What if I can’t foster — are there other ways to help during kitten season? Yes. Following and sharing the organization’s content during kitten season helps connect cats with adopters and recruits new fosters when the need is highest. And if you’ve been thinking about adoption, right now is a meaningful time to act. Every cat that finds a permanent home opens a spot for the next one coming in. Donations go directly to the animals and the programs. You can give at helensanderscatpaws.com.

How You Can Help During Kitten Season

Visit helensanderscatpaws.com to see what fits your life right now. If you have a spare room and a little time, fostering is where the need is greatest. Go to “Join Our Team” and click “Foster.” If you’re not quite ready for that, but you have a cat parent heart, adopting a cat who’s already waiting is its own kind of experience, and every adoption creates space for the next rescue.

And if neither of those is an option right now, passing this along to someone who might be ready costs nothing and could make a real difference. Kitten season moves fast — and so does a share. Follow along on Instagram at @helensanderscatpaws to find the cats and adoption news as it happens.

Deborah Felin Magaldi is the Director of Helen Sanders CatPAWS, a nonprofit cat rescue and advocacy organization she has led for 16 years. She began fostering more than 20 years ago and never stopped. Learn more at helensanderscatpaws.com. 

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For 100 years, LAPL has helped Angelenos discover new worlds through books, research school projects and family histories, learn new skills and connect with the larger community. And the library possesses an uncanny ability to reinvent itself: rebuilding Central Library after a devastating fire in 1986, finding new ways to provide services to people in need, fighting against book banning, creating a makerspace lab named in honor of the great sci-fi novelist Octavia E. Butler and running one of the wittiest and most culturally engaging Instagram accounts in the social media universe. 

As the iconic Art Deco landmark celebrates “Central 100” this year — with special exhibits, multiple programs and events (including the Centennial Festival on July 11), online podcasts and blogs and an old-fashioned melodrama to close out the year —families have plenty of reasons to join the party and the memory-making journey. And don’t forget to pick up your free copy of L.A. Parent magazine at nearly 70 branches!

LAPL Timeline

Central 100 Summer Bucket List

□ Attend the July 11 Centennial Festival
□ Explore a centennial exhibit
□ Pick up a special Central 100 library card
□ Complete a reading challenge
□ Collect and stamp catalog cards
□ Take a docent-led architecture tour
□ Visit a neighborhood branch
□ Share a family memory with the Oral History Project

Library Events for All

Centennial Festival – July 11: The biggest celebration of the year is a free, family-friendly festival held both inside and outside Central Library. Expect hands-on crafts, musical and dance performances, author talks, artist presentations, book signings and activities for all ages.

Central Library Stories – Dec. 5–6 and 12-13: A lively, family-friendly melodrama will chart the ups and downs — and twists and turns — that led to the building we have today and will take place at the end of the year with free performances.

Find dozens more events at branches across the city can be found on lapl.org. And check out six special centennial exhibits exploring the library’s history and impact. Includes two recently opened time capsules.

More Ways to Celebrate

Go on a library adventure. Visit Central Library or any LAPL branch to pick up special centennial color-by-number sheets featuring scenes from the library. Families can also participate in a reading challenge while exploring different library locations. And don’t forget to order your limited-edition Central 100 library card!

Collect history. One of the most creative centennial activities invites visitors to collect historic catalog cards and stamp them at library branches throughout the city. Turn them into keepsakes, collages or family art projects.

Share your story. Families can contribute memories through the Community Oral History Project, helping preserve personal stories connected to one of Los Angeles’ most beloved institutions.

“L is for Librarian.” The first children’s book published by Angel City Press introduces kids to the ABCs of Los Angeles Central Library.

Explore the Octavia Lab. Named in honor of the legendary science-fiction author Octavia E. Butler, the library’s makerspace offers opportunities to create, invent and learn, using modern technology and hands-on tools.

For littles, tweens and teens. Central Library continues to host storytimes, performances, workshops, teen programs, films and special events throughout the year.

Free architecture tours. Central Library is one of L.A.’s most beautiful buildings. Guided tours reveal hidden details, artwork and stories behind the landmark’s famous “Light of Learning” theme.

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Hahaha is a Los Angeles kids streetwear brand making hoodies, tees, joggers and jackets in 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton, cut and sewn entirely in Downtown LA. We hold a GOTS Transaction Certificate and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.

What makes us different: Every top has built-in patch zones, and kids attach and swap embroidered patches themselves using a soft hook-and-loop backing. We have more than 29 themed patch collections, so a single hoodie keeps changing as a kid’s interests change. It’s the part of getting dressed that kids actually want to do, and it extends the life of a garment instead of outgrowing a trend in one season.

The thinking behind the launch: Kids’ clothing is a fast-fashion problem hiding in plain sight. Little ones grow quickly, lose interest fast and most of what they wear is made cheaply, overseas, in synthetics. We wanted the opposite – organic cotton that is soft and safe against skin, made by people we can stand next to in DTLA and a design that grows with a child rather than getting replaced. The patch system came from watching how kids personalize everything they own.

Why it fits L.A. families: Our patch collections are built around the communities that make up this city, with sets reflecting Native American, Mexican, Chinese, Indian and Armenian heritage, alongside L.A.-themed designs. Kids get to wear something that looks like home.

Recognition so far: Sustainable Jungle placed Hahaha in its top “Disrupting” tier for sustainable kids’ brands, and Sustainably Kind Living named us their No. 1 organic kids clothing pick.

Find us at hahaha.la and @hahaha.dtla on Instagram.

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While it’s not an outright ban, Los Angeles Unified School District students will soon have less access to technology during the school day. The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education has approved a new policy establishing age-appropriate limits on classroom screen time beginning this fall. 

Building on cellphone restrictions that LAUSD adopted last year, the new guidelines are intended to ensure technology supports learning without replacing teacher-led instruction and face-to-face interaction. 

District leaders say the goal isn’t to eliminate technology from classrooms but to encourage thoughtful, developmentally appropriate use.

“As we continue to navigate the evolving role of technology in education, our priority remains ensuring it is used in ways that support high-quality instruction, student engagement, and overall well-being,” Superintendent Andrés E. Chait said. “Technology is an important tool that can expand access and enhance learning, but it is most effective when used purposefully and guided by educators.”

What will change?

The policy establishes maximum instructional screen-time limits that vary by grade level.

Beginning in August, students in early education through first grade will generally not use individual devices during classroom instruction. Schools will still be able to use shared device carts when needed for assessments, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and other approved exceptions. Students in the district’s Virtual Academy are exempt from the policy.

Starting later in the school year, older students will have daily or weekly limits on instructional screen time, including homework:

• Early education, kindergarten and Grade 1: 0 minutes per day
• Grades 2-3: Up to 20 minutes per day (100 minutes per week)
• Grades 4-5: Up to 30 minutes per day (150 minutes per week)
• Grades 6-8: Up to 60 minutes per subject each week
• Grades 9-12: Up to 90 minutes per subject each week

The district also plans to restrict student-led use of YouTube and other video-streaming platforms during instruction and review existing classroom technology contracts.

When will the changes take effect?

Implementation will happen in phases:

• August 2026: Early education through Grade 1
• November 2026: Grades 2-5
• January 2027: Grades 6-12

District officials say schools will receive professional development, while families will receive back-to-school resources and guidance before each phase begins.

Why is LAUSD making this change?

According to district officials, the policy reflects growing research on children’s screen use and feedback from nearly 19,000 participants through the LAUSD’s ThoughtExchange community engagement process.

The new guidelines are designed to:

• Preserve teacher-led instruction
• Prioritize educational use of technology
• Reduce unnecessary screen exposure
• Encourage developmentally appropriate learning experiences
• Balance technology with whole-child development

“Our charge now is to recalibrate, evaluate the role of educational technology in the classroom and balance access to that technology with the kinds of instruction and interaction we know help students thrive,” Board Member Nick Melvoin, who introduced the resolution, said following the board’s vote.

Will parents have a voice?

Yes. An amendment approved with the policy requires the district to conduct annual public reviews and gather feedback from educators, students and parents on how the guidelines are working. The first review may include school experience survey questions asking families whether students spend too much, too little or an appropriate amount of time using devices at school.

District officials say the policy will continue to evolve as new research emerges and schools gain experience implementing the guidelines.

At a Glance: LAUSD Screen-Time Limits by Grade Level

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The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education has appointed longtime educator Andrés E. Chait as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, making permanent the leadership role he has held on an interim basis since February. The former superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, resigned June 21 amid federal investigations.

The new appointment comes as the district works to maintain academic progress, address financial challenges and provide stability for nearly 400,000 students.

Chait, who began his career with LAUSD as a kindergarten teacher nearly three decades ago, was unanimously selected by the school board after serving as acting superintendent through labor negotiations, budget planning and the completion of the 2025-26 school year. Board members cited his institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership style and commitment to students as key reasons for the appointment.

“At this moment, our students, families, employees and communities deserve stability, focus and confidence in the future of Los Angeles Unified,” Board President Scott Schmerelson said.

Throughout his career with LAUSD, Chait has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Local District superintendent, superintendent of Local District Northeast, chief of school operations and acting superintendent, giving him experience in both classroom instruction and districtwide leadership.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as superintendent of Los Angeles Unified,” Chait said. “This district has shaped my life and career.”

He said his priorities include strengthening academic outcomes, supporting educators and staff, maintaining safe school environments and ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education.

Board members said appointing Chait provides continuity at a critical time as the district advances key academic, financial and operational priorities.

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LA’s BEST is now enrolling students for its free summer programs across Los Angeles. Since 1988, LA’s BEST has provided safe, joyful and high-quality expanded learning opportunities that support the academic, social and emotional growth of elementary school students.

Summer programming runs June 15–July 24 and includes arts, STEM, sports, recreation, academic enrichment and hands-on learning experiences. Students may attend any participating LA’s BEST summer site, regardless of summer school enrollment status.

Families can find a participating site and apply at lasbest.org/find-a-site or learn more at lasbest.org.

About LA’s BEST

LA’s BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow) is a nonprofit afterschool and expanded learning program serving more than 23,000 students across 201 LAUSD elementary school sites. Through a unique public-private partnership with the City of Los Angeles and LAUSD, LA’s BEST helps children thrive by providing enriching learning experiences at no cost to families.

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