Anaheim School District Offers Free Laundry to Students

The Anaheim Union High School District's board unanimously approved the program in March 2026, creating partnerships with local businesses Superior Laundry and LaundryUp. The initiative provides students with laundry cards, detergent, and fabric softener, and even offers free drop-off and pick-up services at some high school campuses. This program follows a similar effort launched by the Anaheim Elementary School District, indicating a broader strategy within the city to address student needs beyond the classroom. The high school district's community schools team will identify and refer students and their families for the services, which are confirmed to run through the end of the year before an extension is considered. The core motivation is to protect students' dignity and remove barriers to concentration and attendance. Kenny Perez, the district's community schools manager, stated the goal is for students to "attend school with confidence" when not worried about basic necessities. This approach is part of a national trend recognizing the link between basic needs and academic outcomes. Lack of clean clothes is a significant factor in chronic absenteeism, with some schools reporting students missing three to five days a month due to this issue. Research from similar programs shows a direct correlation between laundry access, improved attendance, and increased class participation. For example, a program by Whirlpool called "Care Counts," which installs washers and dryers in schools, found that about 90% of tracked students improved their attendance, gaining an average of six extra days in school. In another instance, a Newark, New Jersey high school installed laundry facilities after discovering 85% of its low-income students were frequently absent and being bullied over their clothes.