Every 10 years, federal law requires electoral districts to be redrawn based on population changes. That process also applies to the districts that make up the Los Angeles Unified School District. Lines were last redrawn in 2011.

There are seven LAUSD districts, each represented by a board member who’s directly elected by voters. The board oversees the second-largest school district in the country, which has more than 500,000 students and employs 74,000 educators, administrators, and support staff.

Currently, the body in charge of redrawing district boundaries is the LAUSD Redistricting Commission. Members of the commission are appointed by politicians: LAUSD board members, the L.A. City Council President, and the L.A. Mayor. The independent redistricting commission ballot measure would end those political appointments — and allow for members of the community to apply to serve on the commission when it convenes in 2030. It would also remove the City Council’s approval process of the final maps.

Official title on the ballot: Charter Amendment LL — Independent Redistricting Commission for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The history behind it

In 2022, L.A. City Council members were recorded making racist comments in a discussion about exerting their influence in redistricting, in what came to be known as the City Hall Tape Scandal.

In an effort to reform City Hall and the redistricting process for the L.A. City Council (which also faces an independent redistricting ballot measure), then-acting L.A. City Council President Mitch O’Farrell said it was only fair to extend the changes to the LAUSD since the City Charter also governs LAUSD elections.

"What we need is consistency and transparency," O'Farrell told LAist. "If we just do the City Council alone, I think it would be an oversight if we don’t also include LAUSD — since its elections are governed by the city."

How it would work

Every 10 years, an independent redistricting commission for LAUSD would be made up of 14 members, four of whom must be parents or guardians of an LAUSD student. State law would require commission members to be at least 18 years old, but the charter amendment allows for youth participation.

Residents would apply to become part of the commission. Eligible residents must live in the boundaries of LAUSD, have not worked for the district for four years, and may not have family members who are lobbyists. The L.A. City Clerk’s office would oversee the selection process, which will start in 2029. The Clerk’s Office will randomly select seven commission members — one from each board district — who will then in turn select the seven remaining members.

The process would then start over for the next Census in ten years.

What people who support it say

Proponents of the measure say an independent redistricting commission would remove undue political power from the redrawing of district lines. “The commissioners and the individuals who will be drawing these new maps will be everyday citizens and residents just like them, and they won't be hand picked or selected by elected officials — which will bring in greater independence,” said Alton Wang, Equal Justice Works Fellow on the redistricting team at Common Cause. Supporters say the measure would prohibit gerrymandering and ensure more community representation.

“When redistricting is done by the members of the elected, by Board members doing their own districts and by City Council members doing their own districts, you end up with people trying to pick their constituency rather than respond to the needs of the constituency they have,” said LAUSD board member and former president Jackie Goldberg, who will retire at the end of this year.

What people who oppose it say

So far, there haven’t been groups that have come out in opposition of the measure.

Further reading

• LA voters will decide on creating an independent redistricting commission for LAUSD
• LAUSD could get independent redistricting panel — and matching funds for Board candidates — in fallout from LA City Council scandal
• What is the LAUSD School Board?

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This voter guide originally published Aug. 28.