LAUSD starts new school year with more security, new curriculum

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Seventh-grader Jessica Serrano checks for her class at Utah Street School in Boyle Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Michelle Fraire, 4, shows her mother, Susana Martinez, her school supplies in front of Fair Elementary School in North Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Lorenzo Marcial, 10, holds the American flag for his fifth-grade class, on the first day of school at Fair Elementary School in North Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Sasha Bella Cruz, 6, snuggles close to her father, Antonio Cruz, as they walk into Sasha’s first-grade class at Fair Elementary School. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Joshua Padilla, 7, leads his class in line on the first day of school at Fair Elementary School in North Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Student’s line up for the first day of school at Fair Elementary School in North Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Dillen Gilmore, 6, is first in line for his class at Fair Elementary School in North Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Jose Tinoco holds his daughter, Jocelyn Tinoco, 5, in front of Fair Elementary School in North Hollywood on her first day of school. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Maria Esquivel attempts to console her granddaughter, Vianca Esquivel, 4, on her first day in pre-K at Hadden Elementary School in Pacoima. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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LAUSD Board Member Monica Ratliff opens a milk carton for second-grader Sean Fuentes, 7, right, on his first day of school at Hadden Elementary School in Pacoima, (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Juan Carlos Rodriguez, left, Title I coordinator, gives a high-five to second-grader Armando Rodriguez, 7, during lunch on the first day of school at Hadden Elementary School in Pacoima. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

By Carla Rivera

Aug. 13, 2013 9:36 AM PT

More than 600,000 Los Angeles Unified School District students returned to class Tuesday after summer break and were greeted with enhanced security measures, new disciplinary rules and expanded health services.

The new safety programs follow in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., last December.

Besides a contingent of more than 400 sworn school officers, the district has allocated about $4.2 million to add nearly 1,000 campus security aides to help monitor elementary schools.

L.A. Unified’s more than 1,200 schools have emergency and first-aid supplies, including food and water and rescue equipment. Schools will conduct regular drills to prepare for different hazards, said Superintendent John Deasy.

Schools are also partnering with community organizations to help students travel safely to and from campus.

“Students must feel safe on campus to achieve their best in the classroom,” Deasy said. “This year, the district has extended successful policies and procedures and added others to help ensure the safety of our youth.”

Under new disciplinary policies, students will no longer be suspended for “willful defiance,” such as talking back in the classroom, but will face alternative punishment. Critics said previous policy disproportionately affected African American and Latino students.

Partnering with community healthcare providers, the district is also opening 15 new school-based health clinics that will offer medical and in some cases mental health services for students and their families.

The district is adopting a new curriculum to meet state learning standards. And a district college-prep policy will require students to pass more rigorous classes. In addition, L.A. Unified is planning to buy iPads for all students beginning this year at 47 campuses.

The Los Angeles district is the nation’s second-largest school system.

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carla.rivera@latimes.com

Twitter: @carlariveralat