Innovation Funds for LAUSD Students

We need YOU to make sure students are getting the funds they deserve

As a result of a lawsuit, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) entered into a settlement agreement to provide roughly $150 million of additional spending to 50 middle and high schools over three school years. Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, these additional funds, known at schools as "innovation funds," are meant to support new and increased programs and services for low-income students, English Learners, and foster youth.

In the 2018-19 school year, the 50 innovation schools used only 38% of the $50 million allocated among them. As a result, schools have a lot of unspent money that could be invested in much needed resources for the three targeted student populations.

In the spring of 2019, school sites prepare their budgets for the 2019-20 school year. This is the time for stakeholders, including students, parents, guardians, teachers, and counselors, to give input to their principal or school site council on how to use the funds.

Take action using our Implementation Toolkit as a guide.

The toolkit includes a list of the 50 settlement schools, a fact sheet on the settlement, a list of frequently asked questions about the settlement plans, a guide on how to advocate to school principals and School Site Councils about the funds, a fact-gathering questionnaire to help us learn how the settlement funds are impacting your school, 1-page summaries of how each school is spending their money, and more!

Learn more about the inception of the lawsuit, CoCo v. LAUSD, case developments, and read the settlement agreement.

Below are documents the ACLU of Southern California obtained from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) through a Public Records Act request in regards to settlement implementation

• Email to principals about “New allocation-Support for High Need Schools (July 17, 2017)
• LAUSD PowerPoint on “School Innovation Fund” settlement and implementation
• Email to principals regarding “School Innovation Fund: Planning and Implementation Guide” (September 14, 2017)
• Email to principals regarding “School Innovation Funds: FAQ” (September 20, 2017)

If you have any questions or concerns about the settlement, please contact:

ACLU of Southern California
Irene Rivera, Education Policy Advocate and Organizer
irivera@aclusocal.org
213-977-5269

ACLU of Southern California
Ana Graciela Najera Mendoza, Staff Attorney
amendoza@aclusocal.org
213-977-5206

Community Coalition
Miguel Dominguez, Director of Youth Programs
miguel@cocosouthla.org