Los Angeles Charter School Battle Heads to Court, Major Implications Await

The California Charter Schools Association recently initiated legal proceedings against LA Unified due to its contentious policy that prohibits charters from utilizing classrooms in specific district school buildings. 

It remains uncertain whether the outcome of the lawsuit will favor the CCSA, but the legal action is already having repercussions within the country’s second-largest school district. 

LAUSD’s recent colocation guidelines were ratified by the district’s school board in February. The lawsuit filed by the CCSA aims to block the enforcement of the updated policy.

The lawsuit contends that the new regulations infringe upon a 2000 state lawBlack Student Achievement Plan. Additionally, it bars charter schools from being established in locations that could draw students away from district-operated schools. 

These restrictions would disallow charters from occupying around 350 out of the approximately 770 public school buildings in the district, according to the CCSA. 

While impacted charter schools will still be provided space in other LAUSD district buildings under the new regulation, charter school operators argue that this will hinder their ability to serve communities in need.