LOS ANGELES - A delegation from Los Angeles Unified traveled to Sacramento today to meet with state leaders and advocate for critical priorities in the 2026-27 State Budget that directly impacts nearly 400,000 students across Los Angeles Unified campuses.
Led by Board President Scott M. Schmerelson and joined by Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas, Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill, and Chief of Governmental Relations Martha Alvarez, the delegation met with members of the Legislature and representatives from the Governor’s Office to outline Los Angeles Unified’s response to the Governor’s January 2027-28 state budget proposal.
The delegation emphasized the urgent need to fully fund the Proposition 98 guarantee, avoid withholding $5.6 billion in constitutionally guaranteed education funding, provide an adequate cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), and sustain investments in special education, community schools, learning recovery, and wildfire recovery efforts.
Protecting Constitutionally Guaranteed Funding for Students
Los Angeles Unified urged state leaders to release the proposed $5.6 billion in deferred Proposition 98 funding in the 2026-27 fiscal year to ensure districts can continue meeting student needs amid expiring federal pandemic relief funds, enrollment shifts, and rising operational costs.
“Proposition 98 is not optional; it is a constitutional commitment to California’s students,” Board President Schmerelson said. “At a time when districts are managing the expiration of federal relief funds and rising costs, withholding guaranteed education funding would directly impact classrooms. Our students deserve stability, predictability, and the full investment voters intended.”
Addressing Rising Costs Through an Adequate COLA
The delegation expressed concern that the proposed 2.41 percent COLA for 2026-27 is insufficient to address rising expenses in special education, transportation, pensions, health care, and staffing, particularly in high-cost regions like Los Angeles.
“Los Angeles faces unique cost pressures, from housing to health care to transportation,” Board Vice President Dr. Rivas said. “A one-size-fits-all COLA does not reflect the realities of operating schools in high-cost urban areas. We are urging the State to consider more equitable approaches that recognize regional cost differences while ensuring all districts remain supported.”
Sustaining Special Education and Supporting Students with Disabilities
Los Angeles Unified supports the proposed increase in special education base rates but emphasized that additional investments are necessary to adequately reimburse school districts for existing services provided for students with moderate to severe disabilities. The District currently spends more than $2.3 billion annually on special education, with a significant portion subsidized by the general fund.
“Our students with disabilities deserve fully funded, high-quality services,” Board Member Newbill said. “While we appreciate the proposed base rate increase, the reality is that districts are absorbing substantial costs to meet mandated services. We must ensure the state and federal governments provide adequate reimbursements for the true costs of serving this important student population.”
Supporting Learning Recovery, Community Schools, and Wildfire Recovery
The delegation advocated for:
- Full funding of the remaining $757 million for the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant to sustain academic gains.
- Support for the proposed $2.8 billion Discretionary Block Grant to address local fiscal pressures and meet student needs.
- Ongoing $1 billion funding for Community Schools, with hold-harmless provisions to protect existing sites from funding reductions.
- One-time wildfire recovery funding to support schools affected by the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, including those impacted by enrollment shifts due to family displacement.
“Los Angeles Unified has made historic academic gains and strengthened whole-child supports, but that progress depends on sustained investment,” Chief of Governmental Relations Alvarez said. “Our message in Sacramento was clear: students are facing real challenges today — from wildfire displacement to attendance impacts linked to immigration enforcement activity — and funding must reflect the urgency of those needs. We are committed to working collaboratively with the Governor and Legislature to ensure resources are stable, adequate, and predictable.”
Continuing Collaboration
The delegation reaffirmed Los Angeles Unified’s commitment to partnering with the Governor’s Office and the Legislature during the May Revision process to secure a final state budget that protects classroom instruction, student services, and long-term fiscal stability.
Los Angeles Unified will continue advocating for policies and investments that support students, families, and educators across California’s largest school district.