Why Has Los Angeles Unified Been So Bad for So Long?

When David Brewer became Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, he ordered a study of what works and what doesn't. The Florida-based consulting firm he hired didn't have to look far. Evergreen Solutions spoke with more than 100 people who work for the district and reviewed reports on LAUSD going back five to ten years. Findings include reform efforts being discarded or put on hold by senior managers, out-of-date policies or administrators ill-informed of newer policies, disconnect between planning and budgeting, a lack of urgency in responding to priorities and deadlines, and a lack of accountability at all levels. Superintendent Brewer promises to change all that, just as past superintendents have. But the question remains: how did things stay so bad for so long?