Teachers Union Protests as LAUSD Considers Staff Layoffs in the wake of Declining Enrollments at Los Angeles Schools

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation's second-largest school system, faces mounting pressure as it grapples with a severe budget crisis driven by years of declining student enrollment. On February 17, 2026, the LAUSD Board of Education narrowly voted 4-3 to authorize the issuance of approximately 3,200 preliminary layoff notices, a move expected to result in the elimination of about 657 positions, primarily in central office and centrally funded classified roles. The decision comes amid a projected $877 million deficit for the 2026-2027 school year, with further shortfalls forecasted in subsequent years, pushing the district toward what Superintendent Alberto Carvalho described as a "breaking point" in fiscal sustainability.

A key factor fueling the crisis is the sharp drop in student numbers. Enrollment has fallen dramatically in recent years, with the district now serving around 389,000 to 392,000 students-down more than 3% from the previous year and significantly below pre-pandemic levels of nearly 500,000 in 2018-2019. Recent reports indicate an ongoing decline, exacerbated by factors including immigration enforcement actions that have deterred newcomer families from enrolling, the end of one-time federal COVID relief funds, and broader demographic shifts. While the exact figure of 32,000 fewer students may reflect cumulative or projected losses over multiple years (with some analyses showing steeper multi-year drops), the trend has directly reduced state funding, which is tied to per-pupil attendance, leaving the district with an oversized structure built for far higher enrollment.

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), representing more than 35,000 educators, along with other unions like SEIU Local 99 and the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, has vehemently opposed the layoffs. Union leaders argue that the cuts are unnecessary and harmful to students, potentially reducing essential support services even as classroom teaching positions are not directly targeted for layoffs this cycle. In response, UTLA members have authorized a potential strike if contract negotiations stall further, and union representatives have protested the board's actions, calling for a delay until updated state revenue figures-showing stronger-than-expected collections-are fully incorporated into budget planning. They contend that the district's $5 billion reserve and recent fiscal maneuvers could avert deep cuts without impacting frontline education.

Protesters gathered outside LAUSD headquarters in the days surrounding the vote, chanting slogans and holding signs decrying the "attack on public education." Union officials emphasized that layoffs, even if precautionary for many, create uncertainty and lower morale among staff who have already navigated pandemic-era challenges. They urged the board to prioritize classroom resources over administrative reductions and to explore alternatives like school consolidations-though no closures are currently planned-to better align staffing with the district's reduced student population.

District officials maintain that the reduction-in-force plan is a necessary step in a broader Fiscal Stabilization Plan aimed at saving hundreds of millions while protecting core instructional programs. No immediate classroom teacher layoffs are anticipated for the upcoming year, with adjustments expected through attrition, reassignments, or natural reductions tied to lower enrollment (such as needing roughly 350 fewer elementary and 400 fewer high school teachers). However, the controversy has heightened tensions amid ongoing contract talks, leaving thousands of employees-and the families they serve-uncertain about the future of LAUSD's workforce and services. As the March 15 deadline for final notices approaches, all eyes remain on whether negotiations or revised funding projections can avert the worst of the planned cuts.