Break Up LAUSD Before It Fails Another Generation

Centralized bureaucracy stifles progress and accountability in nation's second-largest school district

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:39pm

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The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school system in the U.S., has become too large, insulated, and bureaucratic to effectively serve its diverse student population. Literacy rates, especially among Latino and Black students, remain unacceptably low, while the district's bloated administrative costs and red tape prevent urgent reforms. The author argues that breaking up LAUSD into smaller, locally governed districts would bring decision-making closer to parents, hold leaders accountable, and allow for more tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of different communities.

Why it matters

LAUSD's poor academic performance, especially in literacy, has long-term consequences for students' economic mobility and the city's future. The centralized bureaucracy has created an imbalance where administrative costs and waste undermine classroom resources and teacher support. Decentralizing the district could improve accountability, responsiveness to local needs, and ultimately student outcomes.

The details

LAUSD spans 710 square miles, spends $20 billion annually, and serves a diverse student population that is nearly 75% Latino. However, literacy rates remain low, with most Latino and Black third graders failing to meet proficiency standards. The district's size prevents it from effectively addressing the vastly different educational priorities and needs across its communities, from Boyle Heights to the San Fernando Valley. As enrollment declines, LAUSD is struggling to sustain its bloated administrative apparatus, diverting resources away from classrooms. The author's own experience trying to donate books was stymied by the district's bureaucratic red tape, highlighting how the centralized system serves itself rather than students.

  • Three years ago, the author's foundation approached LAUSD to fund a literacy initiative, but the approval process was estimated to take 6 months to a year.
  • LAUSD has lost more than 100,000 students since the mid-2010s, with further declines expected as birth rates fall and families seek alternatives.

The players

Daniel L. Gordon

A Los Angeles businessman and the founder of GLD Partners who established Gordon Philanthropies to advance literacy, accountability, and community-based solutions throughout Southern California.

Los Angeles Unified School District

The nation's second-largest school system, spanning 710 square miles and spending nearly $20 billion annually, but struggling with poor academic performance, especially in literacy, and a bloated administrative bureaucracy.

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What they’re saying

“If we are serious about literacy, equity, accountability and the future of this city then we must do what once seemed politically impossible: Break up LAUSD before we lose another generation to waste, fraud, bureaucracy and abuse.”

— Daniel L. Gordon, Founder, GLD Partners and Gordon Philanthropies

What’s next

The author argues that breaking up LAUSD into smaller, locally governed districts would bring decision-making closer to parents, hold superintendents accountable to distinct communities, give teachers a stronger voice, and tie leadership compensation more directly to measurable student outcomes.

The takeaway

LAUSD's centralized bureaucracy has become a barrier to progress, undermining accountability and the ability to effectively address the unique needs of diverse communities. Decentralizing the district could improve literacy, equity, and overall student outcomes, benefiting both families and taxpayers.