Take Action

Five ways to make your voice heard on how LAUSD spends public money.

1

Email the Board

Seven elected board members control LAUSD’s $18 billion budget. They approve contracts, set priorities, and answer to voters. A direct email from a parent in their district gets attention — especially when hundreds send the same message. We’ve written the email for you. It takes less than two minutes.

→ Send a pre-written email to your board member

Find your board member at lausd.net or email all seven at once using our campaign tool.

2

Search the Contracts

Every contract on this site links to primary sources — board meeting records, vendor filings, and news reporting. Start with the contracts flagged as Red Flag or Questions Raised. Look up the vendor. Search their name alongside “private equity” or “lawsuit” or “school district.” You may find things we haven’t documented yet.

→ View the contract database

Tip: California’s Public Records Act requires LAUSD to respond within 10 business days. If they don’t, that is itself a story worth sharing.

3

Write to Your State Representatives

LAUSD is the second-largest school district in California. State legislators control education funding, procurement law, and oversight authority. A letter from a constituent asking for contract transparency legislation gets read — especially from a parent in an election year.

What to ask for:

  • Mandatory public disclosure of all vendor contracts over $100,000
  • Independent audit authority for school district ed-tech spending
  • Outcomes-based contracting requirements before renewing ed-tech licenses
  • Response requirements for CPRA requests from school districts
→ Find your Assembly member → Find your state Senator

Tip: Reference specific contracts when you write. “LAUSD paid $6.2M for an AI chatbot whose founder was indicted for fraud” is more effective than a general complaint about spending.

Dear [Representative Name], I am a constituent and parent of children in the Los Angeles Unified School District writing to request your support for stronger oversight of school district technology vendor contracts. Since 2022, LAUSD has committed $6.7 billion to private contracts — including $1.6 billion to education technology companies — while claiming it cannot afford to pay teachers fairly or reduce class sizes. The superintendent who oversaw this spending is now on paid leave following an FBI raid. A former employee faces felony charges in a $22 million pay-to-play scheme. I am asking you to support legislation that would require: — Mandatory public disclosure of all school district vendor contracts over $100,000 — Independent audit authority for ed-tech spending — Outcomes-based contracting before renewing any ed-tech license California's children deserve a school district that spends their money on them — not on private companies with no accountability. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your City]
4

Write a Letter to the Editor

Local news coverage shapes what elected officials respond to. A published letter from a parent — citing specific contracts and specific outcomes — is more powerful than a social media post and more likely to be read by people in power. Most outlets publish letters under 200 words.

Publications:

What to include:

  • One specific contract (name the vendor and the amount)
  • One specific outcome (test scores, class sizes, or a fraud case)
  • One specific ask (audit, transparency law, board accountability)
To the editor: Los Angeles Unified School District has spent $1.6 billion on education technology since 2022. In that same period, the percentage of students meeting math standards has not improved. The superintendent who oversaw this spending is now on paid leave following an FBI raid connected to a $6.2 million AI chatbot contract. A former employee faces felony charges in a $22 million pay-to-play scheme. The board approved all of it — unanimously, without public discussion. LAUSD parents are asking one question: where did the money go? We've started tracking the contracts at lausdcontractwatch.org. We could use your help. [Your Name] [Your City and School]
5

Run for School Board

Three of the seven LAUSD board seats are up for election in 2026 — Districts 1, 4, and 6. School board members are elected directly by district voters and serve four-year terms. They control an $18 billion budget, hire and fire the superintendent, and approve every contract on this site.

If you live in District 1 (Sherlett Hendy Newbill), District 4 (Nick Melvoin), or District 6 (Kelly Gonez), you can run to replace them.

→ Find your LAUSD board district → Candidate filing information

Not ready to run? Attending board meetings and speaking during public comment are meaningful forms of participation. Board meetings are open to the public. Sign up to speak at lausd.legistar.com