School Year Begins At LAUSD Schools

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — More than a half-million students headed back to school Tuesday as the year began for the nation's second-largest school district.

Los Angeles Unified School District counselors will be assigned to "high-needs" high schools, district officials explained.

College and career counselors will be working with students at "struggling" middle schools.

The district is also planning to provide additional resources to help English-learners, a group that represents almost one-third of the district's students.

Police have urged motorists to slow down, particularly in school zones; be alert for small children who sometimes cannot be easily seen from behind the wheel; and come to a full stop when a school bus has its flashing red lights and signal arm activated as it loads or unloads passengers.

LAPD officers will be conducting a "traffic education and enforcement task force" at various schools to drive home safety precautions.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)