In Partnership with 74

Here’s an idea: Break LA Unified into ‘6 or 7’ districts

Michael Janofsky | March 18, 2014



Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

imagesMarc Litchman has an idea.

As far as his campaign for Congress, challenging Representative Brad Sherman, a Sherman Oaks Democrat, it’s his only idea.

He wants to break up LA Unified. But not into two districts, one on either side of the hill, as others have advocated.

“We need six or seven,” Litchman said in an interview.

Just how could that ever happen? That’s his idea: A law that denies federal funds to any school district with a student enrollment of 100,000 or more.

“The district is just too big,” he said of LA Unified, which has a student population of nearly 600,000. “They can’t spend the money right.”

He’s so energized by the possibility, he is circulating a petition calling on President Obama and Congress to consider the change. He has a goal of getting 100,000 signatures by April 15. By this morning, he was 99,994 short.

And what of the other 25 school districts around the country with more than 100,000 that might be managed in a more efficient fashion and would risk losing federal money?

“Let them fight their own battles,” Litchman said, vowing to press ahead in Los Angeles even if he loses the election.

Read Next