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By Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles

Do you remember your first day of school? The thrill of seeing friends, the sense of possibility for the year ahead.

That moment arrives Tuesday for 640,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. But when they step into the classroom, the rubber will meet the road — excitement vs. reality. As city leaders, it is our job to give those students the education they deserve. But there is one truth that parents and educators know well: A good education is not restricted to what happens between the first and last bell. Equally important is giving students the right start to their morning and helping them after school.

That’s where City Hall comes in: We can ensure kids have safe streets, after school programs, and healthy meals to make academic success easier to achieve.

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