Gov. Gavin Newsom signed another executive order on Tuesday, this one aimed at quickly helping Los Angeles area schools, children and families affected by the devastating SoCal wildfires.
The executive order will assist displaced students in the Los Angeles region and bolster schools affected by the firestorm, the governor’s office said.
“We are using the full force of the state government to respond to the Los Angeles firestorms and ensure recovery for the thousands of residents who have been impacted by this unimaginable loss, including school-aged children,” Newsom stated. “The executive order will help bring back some sense of normalcy for our youth by eliminating barriers to getting them back learning in school.”
Newsom’s latest executive order will:
Suspend state rules to allow displaced students to attend school outside of their district
Make it easier for schools damaged or destroyed in the fires to use temporary facilities
Help schools avoid penalties for not meeting minimum school year requirements
Direct state agencies to work with damaged or destroyed schools to develop a plan for serving displaced students and rebuilding
In a statement, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said that state education officials have the backs of affected students and are working with local schools.
Smoke rises from the charred remains of a structure at the Pasadena Waldorf School campus, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
“Our impacted school communities are facing unimaginable and devastating circumstances,” Thurmond’s statement read. “We must provide students with access to the best possible educational experiences [and] we will ensure that our school communities get the resources and flexibility needed to recover, rebuild and continue providing quality educational opportunities for every student.”
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Newsom has recently signed other executive orders that suspend permitting and support ongoing firefighting efforts for the L.A. area fires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also issued an executive order that coordinated the clearing of debris and streamlined the process for rebuilding impacted areas across the city.
The Eliot Arts Magnet School in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, US, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
At the federal level, President Joe Biden announced $770 one-time payments for victims of the wildfires. He also previously stated that the federal government would pay for 100% of fire response costs.
Local and state officials have also asked President-elect Donald Trump to visit the area to tour the damage.
