Ukrainian students arriving in California find welcoming environment in state’s schools

AS UKRAINIAN FAMILIES begin arriving in California, they’ll find some of the country’s most well-prepared schools for helping children who’ve fled violence abroad and are trying to adapt to life in a new country.

School districts throughout California, from urban centers to rural outposts, have long been serving immigrant students from war-torn regions and have well-established programs to help those students thrive. That includes mental health counseling, help learning English, summer programs, assistance with college and financial aid applications and other services aimed at helping refugee students and their families. Some districts, including Oakland Unified and San Francisco Unified, even have schools specially designed for newcomers.