More than half a million students attend traditional public and charter schools in Los Angeles Unified, the second-largest district in the nation. LAUSD runs the schools in several other cities in L.A. County, too, such as West Hollywood and South Gate.

The district is also the county’s second largest employer with more than 74,000 educators, administrators, and support staff on its payroll.

LAUSD doesn't fit neatly into "city" or "county" categories. Although it's enshrined in the L.A. City Charter, LAUSD operates independently of City Hall. That's why you elect school board members directly. That also makes L.A. the largest city in the country in which the mayor has no direct control over the school board.

What can the school board do?

School board members have a lot of power. Among other things, school board members:

• Hire, fire and evaluate the superintendent — their single most important responsibility. While the school board sets policy, the superintendent manages day-to-day LAUSD operations. The current superintendent is Alberto Carvalho, who led Miami-Dade County Public Schools before coming to L.A. in 2021.
• Pass an $18.8 billion budget and decide how it will be distributed.
• Work with parents and resolve disputes in the district and individual schools over facilities, budgets, etc.
• Vote on every charter school that hopes to open in L.A.

You might recognize the board's work from:

• Early learning and care: Every 4-year-old in California is now eligible for free pre-kindergarten classes, or transitional kindergarten (also known as TK). Los Angeles Unified has acted fast on the state’s mandate. 
• Student cellphone ban: The board voted in June 2024 to ban student cellphone and social media use during the school day amid rising concerns about the impact of the technologies on youth mental health. The new restrictions took effect in February, with students and educators reporting mixed results.
• Advocating for immigrant and LGBTQ+ students: In August, the school district announced a slew of additional protections for immigrant students, and had previously announced more protections for LGBTQ+ staff, and families of students, as a response to the Donald Trump administration. 

How much money do school board members make?

A committee appointed by local politicians sets the salary and benefits for LAUSD board members.

As of July 2024, LAUSD school board members receive:

• $51,510 if they have another source of employment income. 
• $128,775 if they do not have another source of employment income. 

These salaries increase 1% annually through July 2027.

Before 2017, the board’s pay was based on starting teacher salaries at the time, about $45,000 a year.

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

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Mariana Dale

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LAist

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When do I want to bring something to the board’s attention?

San Fernando Valley mom Roxann Nazario has spent years advocating for her children’s education and on behalf of others in the community.

She said the first person to talk to about your child’s education is their teacher, but if you don’t feel like your question or problem is being addressed, reach out to the principal and other school staff. Then try the regional superintendents — find your region here and the contact information for who’s in charge here.

“There's a chain of command and you have to work your way all the way up,” Nazario said.

To contact the board member who represents your local school or neighborhood (more on how to find them below), you’ll likely first speak to someone who works for their office.

While there’s no guarantee that a board member can or will solve the problem at your individual school, board members LAist has interviewed often pride themselves on listening to and intervening at the local level.

If your goal is to draw wider public attention to an issue — or success — at your child’s school, you might consider attending a board meeting.

The board also has several committees. These meetings are an opportunity to learn more about specific topics and weigh in on policy development, but major decisions must be voted on by the full board.

These are the 2025-2026 school year committees:

• Charter schools
• Children and families in early education 
• Curriculum and instruction 
• Greening and climate resilience 
• Procurement and facilities 
• Safety and school climate 
• Special education 
• Committee of the whole 
  
  • This includes all board members and often previews upcoming policy decisions 

There is an opportunity to speak directly to the board, and whoever may be watching the meeting, during public comment.

Nazario suggests you watch the livestream of a meeting or attend one in person to familiarize yourself with the order of business.

Speakers must pre-register and can comment by phone or in person. They are generally limited to two minutes.

“Don't be afraid to be emotional,” Nazario said. “Don't be afraid to stumble over your words. Like that just shows that you're human and you're not scripted… . You're a real parent just giving your story.”

While board members typically don’t answer questions or respond in the moment, they can dispatch members of their staff to meet with you about your comment. Speaking publicly can also help connect you to other parents, educators and journalists who may report on what you’ve shared.

Who is on the school board?

Board members are elected to four-year terms (with a maximum of three full terms), and represent different geographical areas.

You can also reach the entire board at boardmembers@lausd.net or by leaving a voicemail at (213) 443-4472.

District 1 Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill

• Map, includes Mid City, parts of South L.A.
• Elected: 2024
• Term expires: 2028
• Call: 213-241-6382 (central office) 323-298-3411 (field office)
• Email: BoardDistrict1@lausd.net

District 2 Board Vice President Rocío Rivas

• Map, includes Downtown L.A., East L.A.
• Elected: 2022
• Term expires: 2026
• Email: rocio.rivas@lausd.net
• Call: 213-241-6020

District 3 Board President Scott Schmerelson

• Map, includes West San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood
• Elected: 2016, 2020, 2024
• Final term expires: 2028
• Email: scott.schmerelson@lausd.net
• Call: (213) 241-8333

District 4 Board Member Nick Melvoin 

• Map, includes West Hollywood, some beach cities
• Elected: 2017, 2022
• Term expires: 2026
• Email: nick.melvoin@lausd.net
• Call: 213-241-6387

District 5 Board Member Karla Griego

• Map, includes parts of Northeast and Southwest L.A.
• Elected: 2024
• Term expires: 2028
• Email: district5@lausd.net
• Call: 213-241-1000

District 6 Board Member Kelly Gonez

• Map, includes East San Fernando Valley
• Elected: 2017, 2022
• Term expires: 2026
• Email: kelly.gonez@lausd.net
• Call: 213-241-6388

District 7 Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin

• Map, includes South LA, and parts of the South Bay
• Elected: 2020, 2024
• Term expires: 2028
• Email: tanya.franklin@lausd.net
• Call: (213) 241-6385

Student board member Jerry Yang

• North Hollywood High School
• Elected: 2025
• Term expires: 2026
• Student board members can attend meetings, but their votes do not influence whether a motion passes or fails.

How can I attend a board meeting?

Check the board’s calendar for the next regular, special and committee meetings.

The board meets in person in downtown Los Angeles at 333 S. Beaudry Ave.

The board also streams its meetings online, and offers American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation.

Community members can also request interpretation in other languages by contacting the Board Secretariat at secretariat@lausd.net or (213) 241-7002.

Parking in downtown L.A. can be an adventure. We made a map, below, of district-sanctioned and unofficial lots in the area. There are also designated areas to drop people off on Beaudry Avenue and Boylston Street.

What challenges does the district face?

• Learning loss: The COVID-19 pandemic erased years of progress in reading, writing, and math skills. LAUSD students made small gains on California's standardized math test last year, but the majority of students do not meet benchmark scores for any subject. Among the most vocal parents are those of students with disabilities, who say schools failed to meet their children’s needs during distance learning.  
• Enrollment: Twenty years ago, Los Angeles Unified schools were badly overcrowded. Now, LAUSD faces the opposite problem. The district’s enrollment declined for two decades before lurching downward at the start of the pandemic. California uses enrollment to set school funding levels, so declining enrollment means declining funding.
• Chronic absenteeism: Nearly a quarter of LAUSD students missed close to a month or more of school in the 2023-24 school year. While the rate of chronic absenteeism has declined from earlier pandemic highs, Black, Native American, Latino, and Pacific Islander students miss more school than their peers. A lack of transportation, access to health care, and feeling of safety could all play a role. Without consistent attendance, students lose valuable opportunities to learn, and the district loses funding that could bolster classrooms with additional resources.
• Mental health: In various surveys and reporting, many students say their mental health suffered far more than their transcripts during the pandemic, and schools have struggled to hire enough school counselors and social workers. The school board will have to figure out how to maintain and grow mental health support for students. 
• School safety: The board agreed to cut the school police department's annual budget by $25 million (35%) in the summer of 2020, after the widespread protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It redirected that money into the Black Student Achievement Plan that includes funding for counselors, social workers, curriculum changes, and community partnerships. Advocates say more than two years after the plan launched, funding is lagging and resources have not been distributed equally among all schools. This year also includes additional concerns about the threat of federal immigration enforcement actions on or near campuses.
• Green schools: The majority of LAUSD schools lack cool, shaded places for students to play and learn outdoors. The yards of about 600 schools have less than 30% “green” space according to district documents. The district has allocated tens of millions of dollars to cool campuses in recent years and estimates it could cost up to $3 billion and take decades, to reach its greening goals.

What if my child attends a charter school?

The LAUSD board’s influence on charter schools varies and in many cases, charters have boards separate from the district.

Affiliated charter schools are those operated by the district and the LAUSD board’s decisions influence their operations in a similar way to a traditional public school.

Independent charter schools are run by a separate, nonprofit organization. And day-to-day operations are overseen by a separate board, often appointed by the school’s founders or nonprofit leaders.

They might decide on everything from curriculum to hiring and student discipline.

“ The district doesn't generally have any control over any of those local decisions, provided that those decisions are not unlawful or discriminatory,” said Ricardo Soto, chief advocacy officer and general counsel for the California Charter Schools Association.

Charter school operators oversee a much smaller staff and student body than many public school districts.

“It's much more accessible for parents or for guardians of children to attend those board meetings and to get involved," Soto said. “Charter schools are really dependent on their school communities for anything to happen.”

Find out who is on the board, when they meet and how to contact them on your school’s website or by asking your child’s teacher.

Illustration: Olivia Hughes / LAist