January 7, 2026, marks one year since the Eaton and Palisades fires disrupted schools and communities across Los Angeles County. In the days that followed, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) acted swiftly to support students, families and educators impacted by the fires and to restore learning environments during an extraordinarily challenging period.

More than 45 LACOE staff were deployed to 17 school sites in L.A. County to provide mental health counseling, healing circles and trauma-informed support. Thousands of comfort items and activity books were distributed to help children process loss and stress. Educators received counseling services through the Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE) program, while more than 1,000 families, educators and school staff received nearly $1 million in direct financial assistance from the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation (GLAEF). These immediate actions were essential to helping schools reopen and communities begin to heal but they represented only the first phase of recovery.

Today, LACOE’s work has shifted from emergency response to long-term resilience. Expanded wellness services now include partnerships that bring therapy animals, mindfulness programming and additional mental health resources to school campuses. Educator-led recovery initiatives, funded by the GLAEF, continue to strengthen school-based mental health supports and reinforce care for both students and staff.

Facilities recovery has also entered a new phase. LACOE is collaborating with partners on L.A. County Forward: Blueprint for Rebuilding, which prioritizes resilient construction and green campus restoration. Upcoming workshops will guide districts through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement processes, facilities improvement grants and sustainable design strategies. Best practices for climate-resilient school construction will also be shared at the Green School Symposium in April 2026. In addition, thousands of lost devices have already been replaced, and planning is underway for long-term digital equity initiatives to ensure students maintain access to learning tools during future disruptions.

Support for displaced and homeless students remains a central focus. New partnerships and resource hubs are being developed to provide continuity, alongside expanded family supports and climate resiliency planning. Together, these efforts aim to transform short-term recovery into lasting systems of care.

One year later, the story is no longer only about rebuilding what was lost, it is about reimagining how schools prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis. Through collaboration with state and local agencies, foundations and school leaders, LACOE is turning hard-earned lessons into action to ensure schools and communities are better prepared for the future.

To mark this milestone, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo has recorded a video message reflecting on the past year and the work ahead. Click the video to hear directly from the superintendent about recovery, resilience and our continued commitment to students, families and educators.