Superintendent Andrés E. Chait Highlights Focus on the Schoolhouse, Unity, and Continued Commitment to Student Success During Annual Opening of Schools Address
LOS ANGELES (July 21, 2026) – Los Angeles Unified officially welcomed the 2026–27 school year during its annual Opening of Schools Address at Garfield High School, where Superintendent of Schools Andrés E. Chait celebrated the dedication of educators and school leaders, highlighted continued academic progress, and outlined the District’s commitment to strengthening the school experience for every student.
The event reflected Superintendent Chait’s message that the schoolhouse must remain at the center of all District decisions. Under the leadership of Principal Regina Marquez Martinez, Garfield High School served as a backdrop for a gathering of principals, administrators, Board members, elected officials, community partners, and education leaders from across Los Angeles Unified.
“This is a family gathering,” Superintendent Chait said. “And like any family gathering, it’s important to recognize the people who make this community what it is.”
Superintendent Chait opened his remarks by recognizing the extraordinary leadership of school administrators and educators who have guided schools through unprecedented challenges, including the lasting impacts of the pandemic, evolving student needs, immigration enforcement concerns, declining enrollment, and budget pressures.
“Through all of it, you have shown up keeping schools moving forward, supporting your staff, and holding communities together,” Chait said.
Celebrating Academic Achievement and Continued Momentum
During the address, Superintendent Chait announced that preliminary 2026 California Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) results show Los Angeles Unified is on track for record-setting academic achievement for the second consecutive year in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.
The results continue a three-year trend of year-over-year growth across all three subjects and reflects progress across student groups, including accelerated gains among historically underserved students who are narrowing achievement gaps and improving at rates that exceed overall District growth.
“These are collective accomplishments,” Chait said. “They reflect the dedication, skill, and commitment of our entire community.”
Superintendent Chait also highlighted additional areas of progress, including increased access to Advanced Placement coursework, continued graduation success, increased completion of A–G requirements, and improvements in early literacy among the District’s youngest learners.
He emphasized that behind every data point are stories of students, educators, and communities overcoming challenges.
At Marquez Elementary School, students rebuilt the robotics program after losing equipment during the Palisades Fire and went on to earn the Judges Award at a national robotics competition in Iowa before advancing to the World Championship competition in Dallas.
At King/Drew Magnet High School, Superintendent Chait highlighted rising achievement and college-going success, including the school’s record number of University of California admissions and its distinction of having more Black students admitted to the UC system than any other school worldwide.
Putting the Schoolhouse at the Center
A central theme of Superintendent Chait’s message was a renewed focus on the schoolhouse as the heart of community life and student opportunity.
“The schoolhouse is the daily rehearsal of what it means to live together,” Chait said. “It’s where children learn to sit next to someone different from them, to share supplies, to speak up, to fail and try again.”
He described the school experience as extending beyond academics to include belonging, connection, wellness, athletics, arts, and opportunities for students to discover their potential.
Superintendent Chait highlighted examples of student experiences across the District, including the Portola Middle School girls basketball team, which won the inaugural Girls Middle School Basketball Championship in its first year of competition.
“That’s what we’re building,” Chait said. “A sense of belonging where students feel valued, connected, and supported.”
Building Unity Across Los Angeles Unified
Superintendent Chait also called on educators, administrators, labor partners, and District leaders to move forward together through collaboration and shared purpose.
“The challenges we are facing are system-wide. They require us to work together as a group of people, as a unified school district, centered on a common purpose,” Chait said.
He emphasized that progress cannot come from any single individual or department, but from collective commitment and alignment around student success.
“When people come together around a shared goal, that’s when real progress happens,” he said.
School Experience Survey Highlights Stronger Connections, Support, and Belonging Across Schools
The results of Los Angeles Unified’s annual School Experience Survey (SES) show encouraging progress in how students, families, and staff experience their schools. Students report feeling safer, more supported, and more connected to their school communities, while also building stronger social-emotional skills that contribute to both academic success and personal growth.
Students also shared that they have more opportunities to lead, participate, and play an active role in shaping their school communities. These results reflect the District’s continued focus on creating learning environments where every student feels valued, included, and empowered to succeed.
Educators reported increased satisfaction and professional growth through targeted learning opportunities designed to support their practice and strengthen instruction. Families also continue to express confidence in the quality and effectiveness of their neighborhood schools.
The School Experience Survey provides critical insight into school climate, safety, belonging, engagement, relationships, and areas where additional support may be needed. Feedback from students, families, and staff helps guide school improvement efforts and informs decisions about how to strengthen the educational experience across Los Angeles Unified.
“The true measure of our schools is found in the moments of resilience, determination, and excellence that happen every single day,” Chait said.
Looking Ahead
As the new school year begins, Superintendent Chait urged school leaders to remain focused on instruction, student experience, and creating environments where every student can thrive.
“Our responsibility is to lead with both challenge and progress in mind,” Chait said. “We will be disciplined. We will be strategic. And we will be clear about what matters most.”
He closed by thanking educators, staff, families, and community partners for their commitment to students and reaffirming Los Angeles Unified’s shared mission.
“When the school bell rings, it calls not only students to class but a community to itself,” Chait said.
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See Superintendent Chait's full remarks here: https://lausd.wistia.com/medias/ee7639v7oz
See remarks from the press conference here: https://lausd.wistia.com/s/fm8ivk54flsjvmg