LAUSD Approves Hundreds of Layoffs for School Employees

District cites budget deficits from declining enrollment and loss of COVID-era funding

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Los Angeles Unified School District voted 4-3 to move forward with a cost-cutting plan that will result in 657 employee layoffs, accounting for about 1% of the district's workforce of over 83,000 people. The layoffs will focus on the district's Central office, including people with the least seniority, certificated administrators in non-school positions, and teachers without classroom or school-based roles. LAUSD cited projected deficits of $877 million and $443 million in the next two school years as the reason for the cuts.

Why it matters

The LAUSD layoffs reflect the financial challenges facing many school districts nationwide due to declining enrollment and the loss of pandemic-era funding. These cuts could impact the quality of education and support services for students, especially those from underserved communities.

The details

The LAUSD board approved sending initial layoff notices to 657 employees by March 15, with the decisions to be finalized by the end of the school year in May or June. In addition, 74 employees could see their hours reduced. The IT department would be hit hardest, with about 256 technicians, trainers, and customer service representatives slated to receive layoff notices. LAUSD staff also predict that teacher positions will be reduced in the 2026-2027 school year, expecting to need 350 fewer elementary teachers and 400 fewer high school teachers.

  • The LAUSD board voted on February 18, 2026 to approve the layoffs.
  • Layoff notices will be sent to impacted employees by March 15, 2026.
  • The layoff decisions will be finalized by the end of the 2025-2026 school year in May or June 2026.
  • LAUSD expects to need 350 fewer elementary teachers and 400 fewer high school teachers in the 2026-2027 school year.

The players

Los Angeles Unified School District

The second-largest school district in the United States, serving over 600,000 students across Los Angeles County.

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What’s next

The district will send layoff notices to the impacted employees by March 15, 2026 and finalize the decisions by the end of the 2025-2026 school year in May or June 2026.

The takeaway

The LAUSD layoffs highlight the financial pressures facing school districts nationwide due to declining enrollment and the loss of pandemic-era funding. These cuts could have significant impacts on the quality of education and support services for students, especially those from underserved communities, underscoring the need for sustainable funding solutions for public schools.