LAUSD Sued Over Alleged Misuse of $76.7 Million in Arts and Music Funds
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho are facing a lawsuit for allegedly misusing nearly $77 million in funds meant for arts and music education. The lawsuit, filed on Feb. 10, accuses the district of failing to provide expanded arts and music programs as required by Proposition 28, a measure passed in 2022 to improve access to arts education in California schools.
The lawsuit was filed by LAUSD students and Proposition 28 author Austin Beutner. It claims that hundreds of thousands of students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, have been deprived of the educational benefits promised by the law. Prop 28 was intended to provide dedicated funding to hire arts and music teachers, ensuring that every student had access to more robust arts education.
One plaintiff, a 15-year-old student from Franklin High School, claims she has never had access to an arts class at either her school or her middle school, despite being required to take at least one art class to graduate. Her mother is now searching for an after-school program to fill the gap.
The lawsuit argues that LAUSD's actions are a violation of the law and that the district has not used the Prop. 28 funds as intended, either increasing arts funding or hiring the necessary teachers and aides. Under the law, at least 80% of the funds are supposed to go toward hiring teachers and aides specifically for arts and music instruction, but the suit contends that LAUSD has not met this requirement.
In response, LAUSD stated that it has not been served with the complaint but is working to clarify any misunderstandings about the implementation of Prop. 28, claiming they are still adhering to the state's guidelines.
The lawsuit has the backing of several unions, including United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represent the majority of LAUSD's workforce. These unions argue that the district's failure to meet Prop. 28’s requirements is a disservice to students, especially those from communities that are historically underserved in terms of arts and music education.
