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The U.S. Department of Justice recently moved to join a lawsuit claiming Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) discriminates against white students. This claim distorts the facts. The student supports at issue help reduce class sizes, increase time with their teachers, and keep them connected to school. These supports remain essential because too many students still do not receive the attention and resources they need to succeed in school.
These supports strengthen the everyday experiences that help students stay engaged in and connected to school. Smaller classes allow for more individualized attention. More time with educators and more chances for families to connect with schools, help students feel supported and seen. Taking these supports away would set students back, especially those who rely on them most.
Californians should call this what it is: an effort to reverse progress by twisting the meaning of equality. Our state, school, and district leaders cannot afford to move backward or cave to intimidation. We must continue to support Black, Latinx, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students, multilingual learners, and any student who needs strong support to thrive.
This is not rocket science. When these supports are dismissed, it is not because the evidence is unclear, but because the conversation has been overtaken by political motivations rather than student needs.
EdTrust‑West stands with the families, educators, and community leaders fighting to protect these essential supports. Every child deserves a school system that works to close long‑standing gaps due to underinvestment, not one that is pushed to pretend those gaps do not exist.
EdTrust-West is an evidence-driven advocacy organization committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system. For over two decades, EdTrust-West has worked to improve racial equity in education by engaging diverse communities and increasing political and public will to build an education system where students of color and multilingual learners will thrive. For more information, see www.edtrustwest.org.