Long Lines at LA Schools as 'Daily Pass' Servers Crash, Leaving Thousands Struggling to Check-In

Sarah Favot

Favot is an award-winning journalist and adjunct instructor at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She previously was an investigative and data reporter at national education news site The 74 and local news site LA School Report. She's also worked at the Los Angeles Daily News. She was a Livingston Award finalist in 2011 and holds a Master's degree in journalism from Boston University and BA from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.

Long Lines at LA Schools as 'Daily Pass' Servers Crash, Leaving Thousands Struggling to Check-In
Photo by Sarah Favot/ dot.LA

Los Angeles Unified School District parents and students spent the first day of school refreshing their browsers as the server for the Daily Pass app developed by Microsoft crashed as hundreds of thousands of users tried to log on.

The failure caused long lines that wrapped around the block at some schools as excited and anxious students returned, most for the first time since March 2020.


At Venice High School some students waited two hours to get in, frustrating some even though waits were anticipated as the nation's second-largest school district attempted to orchestrate one of the most complicated public health screenings in its history.

Long lines formed at John Marshall High School in Los Feliz Monday morning as the server for the district's Daily Pass app crashed.Photo by Sarah Favot/ dot.LA

The district touts the strictest protocols in the country, including weekly testing for teachers and its half million students regardless of their vaccination status.

Many parents said they expected delays and glitches with the system. Some blamed Microsoft for the technical challenges.

The Daily Pass was supposed to help mitigate the very scenario that occured on Monday morning. The software generates a QR code for students that screeners can scan to determine whether someone has a negative baseline COVID-19 test and is symptom-free.

Despite all the technology, screeners were checking a printed list at school entrances. If the Daily Pass wasn't working, students were asked verbal health screening questions at the schoolhouse gate.

District officials did not respond to a request for comment.

At John Marshall High School in Los Feliz, a tent with four health professionals wearing scrubs and gowns were prepared to administer rapid antigen tests for students who did not take a baseline test. The tent was not busy. One teacher encouraged students to show their vaccination cards if the Daily Pass was not loading.

The district operated its own testing sites, but students were also allowed to upload results from outside facilities.

Parent advocacy organization Speak Up spokesperson Jenny Hontz said she did not hear of any student being turned away.

In the spring students were forced to stay home if their COVID test failed to load in the system. At least one Venice High student left, appearing to feel anxious, Hontz said a parent reported.

One student said poor internet service in Marshall High School's neighborhood didn't help Daily Pass's log in process. But students were happy to be back -- despite the long line.

Parents and students trying to use LAUSD's Daily Pass encountered error messages as school started, August 16, 2021.

"I was scared we wouldn't have a year, so we're lucky to even have a year, " said Liam Cole, a senior at Marshall High School. Although he's not sure whether he'll get to go to his senior prom because of the district's safety rules.

Parents who said they didn't have problems logging on the system did so after midnight or early in the morning. The district requires that parents log in the same day as the child will be attending school, so it's not possible to do it the night before. Parents who were familiar with the system also said they took a screenshot of the QR code or printed it out.

Despite the long lines, many parents were grateful for the stringent protocols the district made.

Todd Kruger, whose son was entering kindergarten at Franklin Avenue Elementary School didn't mind the weekly testing requirement or the mask mandate because his son's been wearing a mask for likely as far back as his memory can go.

"The stricter the better. As soon as he can be vaccinated he'll have a needle in his arm but until then we'll be the safest we can," Kruger said.

The error message generated urged students not to leave campus.


"You will be let in shortly," it said.

LA’s Data Center Supply Crunch

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles!

The Los Angeles data center market is experiencing a significant supply crunch, ranking 12th in growth among top markets since 2020 with only 265 megawatts of colocation inventory (data centers where businesses rent space to store their computing hardware and servers). Despite this, demand is surging, driven by AI, cloud, and hyperscaler needs, with AI accounting for 20% of new data center demand nationally. This scarcity is creating a highly competitive environment, with vacancy rates at a record low 3% and asking rents rising 13-37% year-over-year. For Los Angeles, this presents both challenges and opportunities in the big picture. The city's strategic position as a global entertainment hub and its connectivity to international markets through subsea cables make it an attractive location for data centers. However, the limited inventory and rising costs could potentially hinder growth and innovation in the tech sector. To maintain its competitive edge, Los Angeles will need to address these constraints through new developments, such as GI Partners' 16 MW addition at One Wilshire, and by focusing on high-connectivity, high-power capacity submarkets. The city's tech community should prepare for a landscape of increased competition for quality data center space, higher costs, and the need for innovative solutions to meet growing demand, particularly in AI and cloud services. While Los Angeles faces a challenging data center supply crunch, its strategic advantages and ongoing developments offer a promising path forward.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Daisy, a one-year-old startup that designs and installs smart home and office technology systems, raised a $7M Series B co-led by Goldcrest and Bungalow, with previous investors Bullish and Burst Capital also stepping up. The company has raised a total of $13.3 million. - learn more

LA Venture Funds


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    🌐Decentralizing Data & Vacations: Sony's Web3 Leap and Sensible Weather's KOA Partnership

    🔦 Spotlight

    Happy Long Weekend Los Angeles!

    Sony Group is making a significant push into the blockchain and Web3 space, leveraging its Sony Pictures and Sony Music divisions along with a new global incubator. The company has developed the Soneium blockchain through Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture aimed at accelerating Web3 innovation. Sony is launching the "Soneium Minato" public testnet and a developer incubation program called "Soneium Spark" to foster ecosystem growth and adoption. The initiative includes strategic partnerships with Web3 companies such as Astar Network, Circle, and Optimism. Sony aims to create a fan community centered on creators and connect diverse values through Soneium, with the ultimate goal of integrating Web3 services into people's daily lives. While the company acknowledges the challenges faced by Web3, including limited user adoption and the need for mainstream use cases, it remains committed to decentralizing the concentrated power of the current internet landscape.

    In completely unrelated and more digestible news Sensible Weather, a leading weather protection provider that we’ve featured many times, has partnered with Kampgrounds of America (KOA) to offer Weather Guarantees at over 450 KOA Campgrounds across the United States. This collaboration allows campers to purchase weather protection for their outdoor experiences, providing peace of mind and potential reimbursements of up to 100% of their nightly rate if weather conditions exceed predefined parameters. The partnership comes at an opportune time, as camping has seen a significant increase in popularity, with active campers growing by 68% over the past decade. If you are looking to do some camping this fall make sure you look into Sensible Weather protections to ensure that unpredictable weather won't dampen (nailed it) your camping experience.


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    LA Companies

    • Space and Time, a blockchain data warehouse developer, raised a $20M Series A led by Framework Ventures. - learn more
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    • Fika Ventures led a $4.55M Seed Round for Revenew, a San Francisco startup that aims to help digital platforms and marketplaces manage their payments and optimize financial operations. - learn more
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      Personality Assessments Improving Workplace Dynamics

      Misunderstandings can have significant and sometimes severe impacts, far beyond the hilarious cake pictured above. Many organizations are increasingly using personality assessments to improve team dynamics and productivity. Tests like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and DISC assessment are valuable tools for developing existing teams in addition to hiring new employees. These assessments provide insights into team members' motivations, communication styles, and work preferences, helping colleagues understand each other better. By highlighting the different personalities within a team, these tests can enhance communication, resolve conflicts, and optimize task assignments based on individual strengths. As companies aim for greater efficiency and collaboration, the Enneagram, MBTI, and DISC assessments are becoming essential for transforming established teams into more effective and cohesive units.


      Image Source: iEQ9

      Enneagram

      The Enneagram test is a sophisticated personality assessment that categorizes individuals into nine distinct personality types, each defined by unique motivations, fears,and behavioral patterns. This holistic approach enhances team dynamics in a business setting by fostering self-awareness, improving communication, and facilitating conflict resolution among team members. By understanding different personality types, teams can optimize their composition, tailor professional development, and create a more empathetic and collaborative environment. This framework not only helps leaders adapt their styles to better support diverse team members but also promotes inclusivity and effective collaboration, ultimately leading to improved team performance, productivity, and retention.

      Resources:iEQ9. We recommend getting an Enneagram coach to get the most out of the results.

      Key Features: Focus on core motivations. Accounts for personality shifts under stress or growth. Offers practical, actionable guidance for personal growth. Uses a dynamic, adaptive questioning approach. Claims 95% accuracy rate through advanced techniques.


      Image Source: DiSC Profile

      DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness)

      The DiSC assessment is a widely used behavioral analysis tool that categorizes individuals into four primary personality types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. For businesses, DiSC provides valuable insights into employees' communication styles, work preferences, and motivations. By understanding these behavioral tendencies, teams can improve collaboration, reduce conflicts, and enhance overall productivity. Implementing DiSC in a business setting can lead to more effective leadership, tailored communication strategies, and optimized task allocation based on individual strengths.

      Resources:DiSC Profile.

      Key Features: Designed specifically for workplace applications. Focuses on observable behaviors rather than psychological traits. Widely researched and validated over 40+ years. Provides practical strategies for improving interactions.


      Image Source: The Myers-Briggs Company

      The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

      The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving. For businesses, the MBTI provides valuable insights into employees' communication styles, decision-making processes, and work preferences.This helps promote a more productive workplace, and enables employees to become involved in more meaningful ways, all while leveraging everyone’s unique strengths.

      Resources:The Myers-Briggs Company.

      Key Features: Focuses on preferences rather than traits. Focuses on how people perceive and judge information. Widely used in business and career counseling


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