Two Separate Controversies Hit Los Angeles Unified School District
LAUSD faces allegations over race-based programming and a staffer charged in $22M money laundering scheme.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is confronting two distinct controversies involving allegations of improper conduct and financial crimes.
Defending Education, an advocacy organization, has accused LAUSD officials of continuing to operate race-based programming exclusively for Black students despite federal civil rights complaints. The group alleges that district officials acknowledged on a recorded conversation that the program remained unchanged following the complaints.
Separately, federal authorities have charged an LAUSD staffer in connection with an alleged $22 million money laundering scheme. Prosecutors described the case as involving "a blatant abuse of public trust," though specific details about the charges and the employee's role have not been fully disclosed.
The two controversies represent separate issues facing the nation's second-largest school district. The race-based programming allegations center on civil rights compliance concerns, while the money laundering charges involve alleged financial crimes.
LAUSD has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding either matter. The district serves over 600,000 students across Los Angeles County and has faced various administrative and financial challenges in recent years.