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Los Angeles County education leaders say Inglewood Unified is emerging from a financial crisis that started more than a decade ago. An estimated 5,000 students returned to district campuses this week for the start of what could be the last school year under the control of an outside administrator.<\/p>\n
The backstory: Inglewood Unified entered receivership in 2012 after the district requested a multimillion loan from the state to balance its budget. As a condition of the loan, the state, and later Los Angeles County, appointed a series of outside administrators to run the district. To regain local control, Inglewood Unified must meet more than 100 standards related to finance, governance, staffing, student achievement and facilities and pay off the $29 million loan \u2014 with interest.<\/p>\n
Why it matters: If the district maintains recent improvements to its financial and facilities management<\/a>, as determined by the evaluation of a state agency, the elected board of education could regain the power to approve a budget and make other key decisions in 2027. County administrator Jim Morris told LAist he is \u201ccompletely confident,\u201d the district\u2019s scores on the state evaluation will continue to improve.<\/p>\n Challenges ahead: Deficit spending was one factor that landed Inglewood Unified in receivership and the district’s spending is expected to exceed revenue by $21 million this school year<\/a>, according to the most recent report from the state\u2019s Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT). Inglewood Unified, like other California districts, also expects enrollment to continue to decline. The FCMAT report found the district enrolls 67% fewer students than it did in the 2003-04 school year<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0Read on\u2026 to learn more about the upcoming school year in Inglewood.\u00a0<\/p>\n Los Angeles County education leaders say Inglewood Unified is emerging from a financial crisis that started more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n An estimated 5,000 students returned to district campuses this week for the start of what could be the last school year under the control of an outside administrator.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aWe spent the first day of school filled with joy,\u201d said James Morris, the district\u2019s county-appointed administrator since 2023. \u201cBreakfasts were ready. Children were welcomed with balloons and red carpets.\u201d<\/p>\n Morris said 95% of enrolled students showed up Monday and 96% on Tuesday\u2014 several percentage points higher than recent statewide attendance averages<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last month, a state agency announced the district had met all the standards needed to regain local control<\/a>, and if it maintains those improvements for another year, the board of education could again have the power to approve a budget and make other key decisions in 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cThis exit from receivership is something the community has been waiting for,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n Morris told LAist he is \u201ccompletely confident\u201d the district\u2019s scores on the state evaluation will continue to improve.<\/p>\n However, Inglewood, like other California school districts<\/a>, faces continued budgetary and enrollment challenges.<\/p>\n The backstory<\/p>\n Inglewood Unified became one of 10 school districts in California<\/a> to enter receivership in 2012 after the district requested a multimillion loan<\/a> \u2014 and ultimately borrowed $29 million \u2014 from the state to balance its budget.<\/p>\n As a condition of the loan, the state, and later Los Angeles County, appointed a series of outside administrators to run the district.<\/p>\n To regain local control, Inglewood Unified must meet more than 100 standards related to finance, governance, staffing, student achievement and facilities established by the state\u2019s Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT).<\/p>\n FCMAT\u2019s July 2026 report found Inglewood Unified met all the standards<\/a>. It now needs to maintain those standards for another year.<\/p>\n The district will continue to have additional oversight until it pays off the $29 million loan \u2014 with interest \u2014 and completes an external audit.<\/p>\n Challenges, opportunities ahead<\/p>\n Overspending was one factor that landed Inglewood Unified in receivership and the district’s spending is expected to exceed revenue by $21 million this school year<\/a>, according to the most recent FCMAT report.<\/p>\n The district has outlined a series of budget cuts<\/a>, including nearly $7 million in the 2026-27 school year, that includes eliminating certificated educators, support staff and administrators because of declining enrollment.<\/p>\n The FCMAT report found the district enrolls 67% fewer students than it did in the 2003-04 school year<\/a>.<\/p>\n The district closed nearly half of its schools since the start of the receivership<\/a>. Five shuttered in June 2025.<\/p>\n Inglewood Unified, like other California districts, also expects enrollment to continue to decline<\/a>. The state distributes funding based on an average of how many students show up to class each day, so fewer students means a smaller multiplier for education dollars.<\/p>\n However, Deputy Superintendent Bernadette Lucas, says new programs could help stem enrollment losses.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aHistorically, the district has seen its greatest drop between middle school and high school, as parents and students look for options that align to their passions and their futures,\u201d Lucas said.<\/p>\n In response, Lucas said high schools are creating pathways for students to earn career and technical education certificates. In 2025, Dr. Dre and producer Jimmy Iovine partnered with the district to open a new high school<\/a> focused on design, technology and entrepreneurship<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not saying it’s a huge wave, but students are coming back slowly, and families are expressing more interest,\u201d Lucas said.<\/p>\n How Inglewood families can get involved in the district\u2019s future<\/p>\n Watch or attend a board meeting\u00a0<\/p>\n Five elected trustees represent Inglewood Unified residents. Even though the board doesn\u2019t currently oversee the district directly, their meetings are where important decisions about finances, curriculum, school safety and other topics are discussed.<\/p>\n Community members can also share their experiences and ask questions during the public comment portion of each meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19. The public portion of the meeting is expected to start at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n The agenda, livestream link and schedule of upcoming meetings are online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join a parent teacher group (PTA) at your child\u2019s school<\/p>\n PTAs often organize fundraisers, student events and volunteer opportunities for their school. Parents, guardians, caregivers and other family members of students are welcome to join.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aWe’re the fun arm of the school,\u201d Marcie Brown, vice president of the Inglewood Council of PTAs<\/a>, told LAist in July.<\/p>\n Vote in upcoming Inglewood elections<\/p>\n