After Months of Community Pressure, LAUSD School Board Invests in Expansion for Black, Immigrant, and LGBTQ+ Student Supports!
LOS ANGELES, CA — After months of relentless organizing by students, families, educators, and community organizations, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board approved a historic 2025–2026 budget that makes major new investments in support of Black, Undocumented, and LGBTQ+ students, a direct result of community-led pressure and organizing:
$50 million to expand the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) — a vital program that now invests $175 Million per year to support Black students.
$5 million for the expansion of Student and Family Centers (Dream Centers), marking the first-ever district-level dedicated investment in services for undocumented students and families.
$2 million for LGBTQ+ student resources, including the creation of queer-affirming spaces, inclusive curriculum, and culturally responsive supports.
“It’s really powerful seeing this happen today! This is a massive victory for all Black, Immigrant, and Queer students and our families,” said Katherine, a student leader with Inner City Struggle and senior at Roosevelt HS. “We fought hard for this because we know our communities deserve to be safe, affirmed, and supported — not sidelined.”
The wins come after a months-long campaign by students and community members, who held rallies, organized school walkouts, packed public comments at board meetings, and distributed nearly 20,000 stickers and info sheets across LAUSD schools following a Police-Free LAUSD Coalition launch event on February 22nd.
“From walkouts to public comment to classroom organizing, young people have led this fight every step of the way,” said Arelia Valdivia executive director of Reclaim Our Schools LA. “This is what it looks like when youth demand more from their schools — and win.”
The war against Black and Brown communities is escalating. In recent weeks, hundreds of immigrant neighbors and community members have been kidnapped by ICE — including students taken from school campuses — terrorizing families and tearing communities apart. At protests in response, countless people have been brutalized and arrested by police and military forces. Meanwhile, anti-Black racism and violence continue to rise: in Los Angeles, Black people make up nearly half of reported hate crime victims despite being only 9% of the population, and attacks against Trans people have reached record highs. In the face of these escalating attacks on immigrant, Black, and LGBTQ+ communities, thousands across the city have taken to the streets. In response, the Police Free LAUSD Coalition, made up of community-based organizations, identified these gaps and proposed clear, resourced solutions in this year’s budget campaign.
“As a parent of a Black and Asian student, I know what’s at stake when our schools ignore our kids' needs,” said Kirti, parent at Girls Academic Leadership Academy. “This funding represents hope — and it’s the result of grassroots power. I hope that the Board continues to listen to parents, students, and educators as we move forward to implementation.”
This victory is a testament to the organizing power of students, families, and community organizations across Los Angeles. At a time when institutions nationwide are rolling back protections for marginalized communities, LAUSD has taken a meaningful step forward, showing the nation what it means to invest in justice and safety for all students.
“For the first time, LAUSD is actually acting on our demands — allocating $50 million to expand BSAP, $5 million to finally fund Dream Centers for undocumented students, and $2 million for resources that affirm and support LGBTQ+ students,” said Kaelin, a student at UCLA Community School and leader with Students Deserve. “This is a huge win — not just because we got a ‘yes,’ but because it proves that our organizing is working. Now it’s on us to keep holding the district accountable to following through.”
We applaud the youth, families, and organizers who made this possible. The fight isn’t over, but today we celebrate a major step toward the schools our communities deserve.
