Stories

Youth activism

For teen activists, defunding school police has been a decade in the making June 2020
Students want climate change lessons. Schools aren’t ready Dec. 2019
L.A. Global Climate Strike: ‘There is no Plan B’ Sept 2019
When LAUSD’s random searches of students end, what’s next for school safety? July 2019
Read also: Random searches in L.A. find more school supplies than weapons. Are they necessary? Dec 2017
In the L.A. teachers strike, teaching families picket and pinch pennies Jan 2019
L.A. students are already activists. Now they want to vote at 16 April 2019
L.A. teens join students nationwide in another walkout against gun violence April 2018
L.A. Unified commemorates 50th anniversary of Eastside walkouts, but tells students to stay in class for Parkland protests March 2018
DACA brought Dreamers out of the shadows. Now, some plan to only get louder Sept. 2017
This school is opening the first gender-neutral bathroom in Los Angeles Unified April 2016
Read also: Santee community rallies in support of gender-neutral bathroom
Red spaghetti straps kept a girl out of school and now there’s a review of L.A.'s dress codes Feb 2016
Read also: The problem with slut-shaming in schools

Surrounded: Killings near school, and the students left behind

Sonali was the lead reporter for this award-winning 5-part series, about the schools in L.A. County surrounded by the highest number of homicides. For a year she investigated the impacts of those deaths on students, families and educators.

Part 1: What it’s like to go to school when dozens have been killed nearby

Part 2: Navigating a safe path to schools surrounded by homicide

Part 3: Resources for students and families affected by violence near schools

Part 4: Monyae’s story

Part 5: How should journalists write about killings near schools? Students weigh in

Mental Health

Nipsey Hussle was killed next to a school. His death still haunts students Oct 2019
Also read: Behind the story: the value of responding to angry readers

Recent shootings can make going to school seem scary, but there are ways to help kids cope Feb 2018
How to talk to kids about fires and earthquakes, before and after they happen Oct. 2017
How to talk to your kids about the violence in Charlottesville Aug. 2017

Breaking news

Kobe and Gigi Bryant among those killed in helicopter crash Jan 2020
What started as a tiny brush fire became the state’s deadliest wildfire. Here’s how Nov. 2018
A new normal for California: destructive wildfires across the state July 2018
Frightened students describe gunfire at L.A. middle school Feb 2018
Read more coverage of that school shooting here
For nearly 40 minutes, Hawaii thought the end was near. Why did it take so long to learn missile alert was a mistake? Jan 2018
Why no children died during the Rancho Tehama school shooting Nov. 2017
The mystery behind California’s most destructive wildfires: Who is to blame? Nov. 2017
Las Vegas shooting victims: Portraits of the fallen Oct. 2017
Sonali led reporting and organization of an L.A. Times page dedicated to victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting, which informed the paper’s future approach to covering mass shooting victims.
Coverage of the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting
Worshipers in San Bernardino pray, grieve and try to make sense of the shooting Dec 2015
Cal State San Bernardino class on Islamic world grapples with students’ questions about shooting Dec 2015
What San Bernardino teachers are doing to help their students cope Dec. 2015

COVID education coverage

Children with disabilities are regressing. How much is distance learning to blame? Aug 2020
We need to prepare for the mental health impacts of coronavirus on kids May 2020
One teacher’s quest to track down her students amid coronavirus school closure April 2020
‘This will be their 9/11': How to help kids cope with coronavirus stay-at-home orders March 2020]

Other youth coverage

What’s driving these educators to strike Jan 2019
A 6-year-old was shot in crossfire. Here’s what her mom wants you to know Oct. 2018
Schools are boosting graduation rates by offering ‘credit recovery.’ But what are students learning? July 2017

Stories

Youth activism

For teen activists, defunding school police has been a decade in the making June 2020

Students want climate change lessons. Schools aren’t ready Dec. 2019

L.A. Global Climate Strike: ‘There is no Plan B’ Sept 2019

When LAUSD’s random searches of students end, what’s next for school safety? July 2019

Read also: Random searches in L.A. find more school supplies than weapons. Are they necessary? Dec 2017

In the L.A. teachers strike, teaching families picket and pinch pennies Jan 2019

L.A. students are already activists. Now they want to vote at 16 April 2019

L.A. teens join students nationwide in another walkout against gun violence April 2018

L.A. Unified commemorates 50th anniversary of Eastside walkouts, but tells students to stay in class for Parkland protests March 2018

DACA brought Dreamers out of the shadows. Now, some plan to only get louder Sept. 2017

This school is opening the first gender-neutral bathroom in Los Angeles Unified April 2016

Read also: Santee community rallies in support of gender-neutral bathroom

Red spaghetti straps kept a girl out of school and now there’s a review of L.A.'s dress codes Feb 2016

Read also: The problem with slut-shaming in schools

Surrounded: Killings near school, and the students left behind

Sonali was the lead reporter for this award-winning 5-part series, about the schools in L.A. County surrounded by the highest number of homicides. For a year she investigated the impacts of those deaths on students, families and educators.

Part 1: What it’s like to go to school when dozens have been killed nearby

Part 2: Navigating a safe path to schools surrounded by homicide

Part 3: Resources for students and families affected by violence near schools

Part 4: Monyae’s story

Part 5: How should journalists write about killings near schools? Students weigh in

Mental Health

Nipsey Hussle was killed next to a school. His death still haunts students Oct 2019

Also read: Behind the story: the value of responding to angry readers

Recent shootings can make going to school seem scary, but there are ways to help kids cope Feb 2018

How to talk to kids about fires and earthquakes, before and after they happen Oct. 2017

How to talk to your kids about the violence in Charlottesville Aug. 2017

Breaking news

Kobe and Gigi Bryant among those killed in helicopter crash Jan 2020

What started as a tiny brush fire became the state’s deadliest wildfire. Here’s how Nov. 2018

A new normal for California: destructive wildfires across the state July 2018

Frightened students describe gunfire at L.A. middle school Feb 2018

Read more coverage of that school shooting here

For nearly 40 minutes, Hawaii thought the end was near. Why did it take so long to learn missile alert was a mistake? Jan 2018

Why no children died during the Rancho Tehama school shooting Nov. 2017

The mystery behind California’s most destructive wildfires: Who is to blame? Nov. 2017

Las Vegas shooting victims: Portraits of the fallen Oct. 2017

Sonali led reporting and organization of an L.A. Times page dedicated to victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting, which informed the paper’s future approach to covering mass shooting victims.

Coverage of the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting

Worshipers in San Bernardino pray, grieve and try to make sense of the shooting Dec 2015

Cal State San Bernardino class on Islamic world grapples with students’ questions about shooting Dec 2015

What San Bernardino teachers are doing to help their students cope Dec. 2015

COVID education coverage

Children with disabilities are regressing. How much is distance learning to blame? Aug 2020

We need to prepare for the mental health impacts of coronavirus on kids May 2020

One teacher’s quest to track down her students amid coronavirus school closure April 2020

‘This will be their 9/11': How to help kids cope with coronavirus stay-at-home orders March 2020]

Other youth coverage

What’s driving these educators to strike Jan 2019

A 6-year-old was shot in crossfire. Here’s what her mom wants you to know Oct. 2018

Schools are boosting graduation rates by offering ‘credit recovery.’ But what are students learning? July 2017

Sonali Kohli