Students in the Anaheim Union High School District will soon get to do their laundry for free through a new partnership approved by the school board, aimed at helping high schoolers focus on learning.
The Orange County Register reported the district has connected with local laundromats, including Superior Laundry and mobile laundry service LaundryUp, who will provide wash, fold and dry services for students in need.
The district’s community schools team will work directly with families to refer students for services. Participants may receive vouchers in exchange for laundry cards preloaded with $8 in credits — enough for two wash cycles and three 10-minute drying cycles — or, at designated campuses, access free pickup and delivery of their clothing through LaundryUp.
“We believe that protecting a student’s dignity is essential to their success, it is difficult for a young person to focus on education if they are worried about basic necessities like clean clothes,” said Kenny Perez, Anaheim Union community schools manager, in an interview with the OC Register. “By partnering with local facilities, we aim to remove these barriers so students can attend school with confidence.”
The partnership follows a similar effort launched by the Anaheim Elementary School District to support younger students. Free laundry services in Anaheim Union will continue through Dec. 31, as district leaders will later consider an extension based on student need.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- On Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks incorporated science lessons into their hockey practice for an audience of almost 7,000 elementary school students at the annual First Flight Field Trip event at the Honda Center.
- About 20 educational leaders and partners have been selected as 2026 Orange County Administrators of the Year by ACSA Region 17, for their work in advancing academic excellence and student achievement.
- In the latest episode of the Future Current podcast, County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean sits down with former Santa Ana Unified Superintendent Jerry Almendarez to discuss how educational leaders can embrace new technologies and prepare today’s students for what’s ahead.
- OCDE and Vanguard University are teaming up to host the 2026 Ensure Justice conference aimed at addressing key threats facing youth and strengthening support systems for students.
- Laguna Beach High School recently received its first California Green Ribbon Schools Gold Level recognition for its efforts to conserve energy, save water and encourage recycling campus-wide.
- Following the recognition of National School Counselors Week earlier this month, new data has revealed that the ratio of school counselors to students has improved nationwide — now 372-to-1 — according to an analysis from the American School Counselor Association.
- Yorba Linda High School football coach Jeff Bailey will take on a new role at Beverly Hills High School, leaving the Mustangs after 16 seasons and racking up 179 victories in his coaching career in Orange County.
- Fountain Valley High School clinched its fourth straight team win at the CIF Southern Section individual wrestling championships earlier this month, with eight of its 11 finalists winning their individual matches. Elsewhere in Orange County, two wrestlers from Laguna Beach High School have been selected to compete in this year’s CIF Masters Meet for the first time in the program’s history.
- The FBI has launched an investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District and its superintendent, in relation to the district’s contract with Boston-based artificial intelligence startup AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times.
- Chronic absenteeism in the early grades is tied to higher rates of district transfers and continued attendance problems, according to new research from Attendance Works and the School Policy, Action and Research Center at UC Davis.
- Despite facing hardship throughout her high school water polo career, Newport Harbor High senior Sunny Brown has committed to attending the University of Indiana in the fall after helping her team to secure top-three finishes at each of their tournaments this season.
- After 50 years of broadcasting student-run radio shows from Saddleback College, the radio waves at KSBR-FM at Saddleback College will soon go silent and transfer its FCC license to its collaborators at Cal State Northridge’s KCSN-FM due to programming costs.
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