In a decisive move for educational equity, the Los Angeles Unified School District has passed an $18.8 billion budget for the 2025-26 school year. The budget, unanimously approved by the Board of Education, prioritizes the protection of staffing levels and development of programs specifically targeting Black and LGBTQ+ students, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Among the most notable allocations, an extra $25 million will be invested in the Black Student Achievement Plan, raising its total funding to $175 million; likewise, $26 million has been earmarked for an accelerated arts initiative. In responding to needs for more inclusive support structures, $2 million has been set aside for the protection, awareness, and training that benefit LGBTQ+ students. The district also carries on its $700 million pledge to the Student Equity Need Index. However, in an interesting turn, the Board has also placed a moratorium on cabinet-level salary increases and some senior staff benefits, perhaps signaling a shift towards greater fiscal responsibility amidst challenging economic conditions.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho heralded the budget as a "promise to student equity," confirming that while facing a structural deficit, fiscal measures have been taken in anticipation of possible economic instabilities. Carvalho emphasized continued transparency, as reported by the district's news release. Board President Scott Schmerelson reflected on the difficult situation, stating that the approved budget, "though imperfect, is the best we can do during these very difficult times."
Community reaction appears to affirm the district’s direction, with activists from the Police-Free LAUSD Coalition praising the increased funding for equity programs. Student leader Katherine, with Inner City Struggle, conveyed to NBC Los Angeles, "It's really powerful seeing this happen today." She underscored the importance of safety, affirmation, and support for marginalized communities within the school system. Echoing the sentiment, Kaelin, a UCLA Community School student and leader with Students Deserve, lauded the district’s actions, "For the first time, LAUSD is actually acting on our demands."
The budget includes approximately $6.5 billion in unrestricted general funds and $5 billion in restricted general funds, detailing a commitment to a wide range of services without resorting to furloughs. Additionally, capital projects funds tally around $3.35 billion, with $1.7 billion reserved for employee benefits and a further $1.2 billion allocated for debt service. Despite an overall projection of decreased enrollment and a reliance on one-time federal coronavirus funds to manage the deficit, the district is poised to take in $15.9 billion in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year, per the same NBC Los Angeles report.
