March 12, 2026

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Judith Larson’s daughter was in sixth grade in Los Angeles Unified School District. The family waited months for a school computer and internet access, so that she could join classes online.

As her daughter fell further and further behind, Judith decided to take action. She is one of the plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit filed against LAUSD alleging that students were denied “basic educational equality” during the pandemic.

A settlement was recently reached in the case, requiring the district to offer intensive “high-dose” tutoring to 100,000 students for three years.

Guests:

Judith Larson, mother, Los Angeles Unified School District

Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource

Read more from EdSource:

Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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