Los Angeles Teachers Rally for Smaller Classes, Increased Support
Thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) educators and support staff held rallies at five locations across the district today, demanding improved conditions for students and teachers.
The rallies, including one at the district headquarters, focused on calls for smaller class sizes, more counselors, and better campus maintenance. Union leaders claim LAUSD is holding onto $5 billion in reserves that could be used to address these needs. “We need to go ahead and make sure that our families are being supported with what’s going on on the streets with ICE,” said Maria Vargas, a teacher and member of the United Teachers Los Angeles bargaining team. “We need support for immigrant students and our families and in terms of retaining educators, we need to support educators with competitive salaries to fill vacant positions and retain our educators.”
LAUSD officials acknowledge financial pressures, citing a decade-long decline in enrollment. They state they are already spending beyond their income and have offered wage increases of 2% for 2025-26 and 2% for 2026-27, with potential for further negotiation in 2027-2028. The district also highlighted a reduction in class sizes over the past seven years, with most academic classes decreasing by 7 to 9 students—roughly 25%—and points to over 29% in increased compensation for teachers over the last four years. Research consistently shows a correlation between smaller class sizes and improved student outcomes.
The district maintains it is bargaining in good faith and working to address the concerns raised by the union. These negotiations come at a critical time as school districts nationwide grapple with funding challenges and teacher shortages. LAUSD officials stated they will continue discussions with UTLA to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.
