The global health pandemic has shifted learning for more than 50 million students across the U.S. from kindergarten through 12th grade, with online distance learning exacerbating challenges.

For this reason, academic leaders will gather for an L.A. Education Virtual Town Hall on March 11 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. to discuss how charter public schools are addressing pressing issues, such as ensuring that students are prepared for college, equitably addressing the needs of our most vulnerable students and addressing the social and emotional needs of students and their families.

The town hall will feature the innovative work of charter public schools in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic and in a post-pandemic world. Panel discussions include conversations about charter public schools, championing student needs during COVID-19, distance learning inequities, student learning loss, social-emotional learning practices and more.

Education leaders will participate in panel discussions during the town hall, which will be moderated by Telemundo 52/KVEA news anchor and award winning journalist, Dunia Elvir. Participants include: Tanya Ortiz Franklin, LAUSD board member; Howard Fuller, civil rights activist and education reform advocate; Audrey Dow, senior vice president, Campaign for College Opportunity; Brenda Lopez, director of student services, Magnolia Public Schools; Genoveva Cortes, director, alumni support and college success, Bright Star Schools; Lonneshia Web, KIPP SoCal Public Schools; Mac Macaulay, chief of schools, Ednovate; Nancy Duchesneau, fellow, social-emotional academic development, Education Trust; and Simon Linsley, director of college success, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools.

To register, visit bit.ly/edtownhall2021.