The seven members of the L.A. Unified’s board oversee the nation’s second-largest school district, with more than 538,000 students enrolled. The district is also the county’s second-largest employer with more than 74,000 educators, administrators, and support staff on its payroll.
Three seats are up for election Nov. 5, including District 3.
Unlike in New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., where the mayor appoints education system leaders, Los Angeles schools are run by the school board, which voters elect directly. That means the board members have a lot of power.
What do LAUSD board members do?
- Hire and fire the superintendent — their single most important responsibility
- Pass the budget ($18.4 billion) and decide how it will be distributed.
- Work with parents and resolve disputes in their district over facilities, budgets, etc.
- Vote on every charter school that hopes to open in L.A.
Make It Make Sense: Election 2024 Edition
Our election newsletter helps you make sense of the choices on your ballot and what the results mean for your life in SoCal. Starts again this fall.
What’s on the agenda for next term?
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges in the district, including declining enrollment, disparities in student learning, truancy, inadequate mental health support, and lackluster standardized test scores.
Go deeper: Read more about what board members do, and the challenges facing the school board
About the Board District 3 race
District 3 is located in the West San Fernando Valley and also encompasses Studio City. Voters elected Scott Schmerelson to represent the district in 2014 and again in 2020. He is now up for reelection.
The candidates:
- Dan Chang, public school teacher
- Scott Schmerelson, teacher/counselor/Incumbent Boardmember
Quick…
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