Parents, educators, and communities all depend on a robust public education system to make
sure every student can thrive. However, too often the conversation around the future of public
education in Los Angeles revolves around pointing out differences between traditional schools run
by the district and charter schools managed by private entities. This simplistic narrative forces all
stakeholders in the public education system to take sides in an increasingly acrimonious debate, rather than working together to craft a visionary consensus for a sustainable, innovative, and accessible public education system that will create new educational opportunities for all students.
Reclaim Our Schools LA is bringing together students, families, educators, school staff and community members to chart a new course for public education in Los Angeles because our existing educational system does not consistently deliver on the promise of a comprehensive, free, innovative, and sustainable public education for every student. Reclaim Our Schools LA is a coalition organized around a set of guiding principles that we outline in this report, and that will form the through line around which our future research, organizing, and advocacy will be oriented.