
Mallika Seshadri
Mallika Seshadri covers education in Los Angeles, including LAUSD, for EdSource. Previously, she interned with NPRās āAll Things Consideredā and āNational Deskā and covered higher education for the CalMatters College Beat. Her reporting has been published by The San Francisco Chronicle, ABC, CBS and NPR member stations across the country. Mallika holds a BA with distinction in political science and global studies from UC Berkeley, where she served as the managing editor of The Daily Californian. She is currently pursuing a MA in Specialized Journalism at the University of Southern California, where she is a Selden Ring Fellow for investigative journalism.
All articles by Mallika Seshadri
A lifeline forĀ illĀ students,Ā LAUSDās home hospital school suffers from instability
LAUSD's Berenece Carlson Home Hospital School has been vital for students enduring serious illnesses ā but waves of instability and the closing of its online academy have left many without the support they need.
Mallika Seshadri
January 31, 2025
āThe day I lost my house:ā School communities reel from Eaton, Palisades fires
Still reeling from the Palisades and Eaton fires, students and school staff are starting to regain a sense of normalcy.
Mallika Seshadri
January 22, 2025
How a new LAUSD board member hopes to inspire change following Trumpās inaugurationĀ
LAUSD's new board member, Karla Griego, hopes to support students threatened by immigration enforcement as she begins her term.
Mallika Seshadri
January 21, 2025
Los Angeles schools close, brace for more fire, wind and ashĀ
Los Angeles Unified is just one of many districts across the county to close as fires surge.
Mallika Seshadri
January 10, 2025
How to balance the health and educational needs of chronically ill studentsĀ
Melanie Brady, a lecturer at USC, weighs in on supporting the health and education of students who are struggling with chronic illnesses.
Mallika Seshadri
December 19, 2024
What high school graduating classes might look like in 2041
Between now and 2041, the number of high school graduates in California is expected to fall.
Mallika Seshadri
December 11, 2024
LAUSD unanimously affirms support for immigrant and LGBTQ+ students leading up to Trumpās inaugurationĀ
LAUSD's school board passed four policies in response to the re-election of President Donald Trump, vowing to support immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities.
Mallika Seshadri
November 19, 2024
College application deadlines are near. What you need to know
The basics of college admissions for California's public universities, community colleges and beyond.
Mallika Seshadri
October 29, 2024
LAUSD celebrates academic recovery, but a rough road lies ahead without Covid relief moneyĀ
LAUSD has made significant strides toward recovering its pandemic learning losses. District administrators hope to keep the momentum going without Covid relief funds.
Mallika Seshadri
October 11, 2024
Upgrading facilities can make schools safer and more sustainable, panel saysĀ
State and local bonds on the November ballot could play a key role in upgrading school facilities amid safety concerns and climate change.
Mallika Seshadri
October 9, 2024
How to keep young Black and Latino teachers from leaving LAUSD
Concerns about teacher retention in Los Angeles Unified are growing, with higher percentages of young Black and Latino teachers wanting to leave.
Mallika Seshadri
October 3, 2024
Boosting achievement, mental health are priorities for LAUSD student board member Anely Cortez Lopez
A daughter of Mexican immigrants, 17-year-old Lopez has been engaged in civic life from a very young age.
Mallika Seshadri
September 13, 2024
10 LAUSD schools get a chance to opt out of standardized testing, create alternative measurements
10 community schools in the Los Angeles Unified School Districts will be able to develop alternative assessments in the 2025-26 academic year.
Mallika Seshadri
September 10, 2024
LAUSD's 100 priority schools show support for equity, but some say program isn't enough
LAUSD's Priority Schools are trying to boost performance where there is greater need. Some advocates and educators say it doesn't go far enough.
Mallika Seshadri
August 28, 2024
Communities demand transparency after Ed, LAUSDās AI chatbot, failsĀ
After Ed, LAUSD's chatbot fell, communities are demanding answers, and experts are weighing in.







