The Impacts of the Los Angeles Wildfires: Lessons for Schools Nationwide

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The Impacts of the Los Angeles Wildfires: Lessons for Schools Nationwide

Devastating wildfires in Southern California in early January 2025 were historic in scale and impact

March 11, 2025 by Kristen Hengtgen, Ph.D., Skye Grammas, Sarah Heine

Image of planet earth with green leaves, wind mills, and other symbols representing the environment

Devastating wildfires in Southern California in early January 2025 were historic in scale and impact – including interrupting the education of more than 725,000 students, with a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Among those students:

More than 1/10 are students with disabilities
2/5 are multilingual learners
3/4 are socio-economically disadvantaged
2/3 are Latino

Given increased threats of extreme weather across the country, it will be essential that all students have access to climate-resilient infrastructure that can withstand severe weather and keep students safe.

For more information on how school closures harm students’ academics and well-being, and proposed actions for state and district leaders and community members, read the full report by EdTrust and UndauntedK12.

Download the report from UndauntedK12

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The Impacts of the Los Angeles Wildfires: Lessons for Schools Nationwide