Teachers, parents, students, and advocates for strong education – we must come together and demand better, more deserving circumstances for the educators who shape the minds of our future generations. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) must prioritize the needs of its teachers — the backbone of our society — by increasing wages and providing additional funding for classroom supplies. We ask you to stand with us to support the hardworking people who dedicate their lives to educating and inspiring the youth of Los Angeles!

Teachers at LAUSD often face the challenge of not only educating their students, but also funding their own classrooms. In 2022, the average teacher salary in LAUSD was $81,919, which, after taxes, is barely enough to cover the high cost of living in LA, while also allowing teachers to live with some financial flexibility. According to data from PayScale and Numbeo, the average annual cost of living in LA for a single person is approximately $48,204, leaving many teachers with little, arguably insufficient, financial flexibility. It’s also important to note that many LAUSD teachers are not only supporting themselves, but families with their own children, thus compounding these financial challenges. Some may argue that the average LAUSD teacher salary is approximately 117% of the national average (NEA, 2024). However, in LA, “housing expenses are 137% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 10% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 33% higher than the national average” (PayScale).

 

The Problem:

• Low Wages: Many LAUSD teachers may struggle to afford housing or other essential expenses in Los Angeles, causing immense financial stress and ultimately, increasing teacher shortages. LAUSD has given some recent wage increases, though these raises have barely kept pace with inflation, if at all, meaning teachers have seen little real improvement in purchasing power. NEA dive briefs from K-12 Dive have highlighted that teacher salaries nationwide have not kept up with inflation over the past decade.
• Inadequate Classroom Supplies Funding: While LAUSD provides certain budget allocations for classroom supplies, such as per-student funding through Title I and general fund programs, budget constraints often limit the adequacy of these resources. As it stands, schools currently receive $17 to $24 per student annually for classroom materials, depending on the student’s grade level, according to the General Fund School Programs Manual. However, this funding is often insufficient, often causing teachers to resort to external avenues like DonorsChoose or spending their own money in order to provide their students with a more thorough educational experience. On average, teachers in California spend approximately $664 annually out of pocket on classroom materials, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute — the highest amount in the nation.

Meanwhile, neighboring districts like Beverly Hills Unified School District offer more competitive teacher salaries, averaging about $120,004 annually, according to Niche. This disparity highlights the urgent need for LAUSD to invest more in its teachers in order to remain competitive and to ensure a high-quality education for their 427,795 students.

 

The Solution:

We demand that LAUSD:

• Increase Teacher Salaries: Provide a salary increase that aligns with the cost of living in Los Angeles and reflects the critical role teachers play in educating our youth, thus paving the way for a stronger society.
• Expand and Increase Classroom Funding Allocations: Increase the current per-student funding allocations for classroom supplies in order to ensure that teachers have sufficient resources without having to rely on their own personal funds.

 

Why This Matters:

Investing in teachers means investing in the future. When teachers are properly compensated and supported, students thrive. Research from the Learning Policy Institute shows that higher teacher salaries are correlated with improved student performance, reduced turnover, and better recruitment of highly qualified educators — crucial for providing LA’s future with the best education possible.

 

How You Can Help:

• Sign this petition to show your support for LAUSD teachers and demand action from the LAUSD Board of Education.
• Spread the word on social media to raise awareness of this issue and encourage others to sign.
• Contact your local representatives to advocate for increased funding for public education and teacher wages.

Our teachers should not have to choose between paying their bills and educating our children. We must come together to ensure that LAUSD teachers are given the respect, resources, and compensation they deserve. Together, we can create a brighter future for our schools, our teachers, and our students.