The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) and community leaders today celebrated a historic milestone in the district's transition toward restoring local governance, marking the beginning of the final year before its anticipated exit from state receivership.

The event recognizes years of determination, collaboration and steady progress to strengthen the district's finances, improve day-to-day operations and build a strong foundation for the future. It's also a chance to celebrate the students, educators, staff, families and community members whose belief in the district helped make this moment possible.

"Today is about celebrating how far Inglewood Unified has come," said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. "This progress didn't happen overnight. It happened because people came together with a shared belief that every student deserves a strong, thriving school district. LACOE has been proud to support IUSD throughout this process, and we're excited to help the district cross the finish line."

Since entering state receivership in 2012, IUSD has transformed the way it manages its finances, operates its schools and serves its community. In 2018, when state law shifted oversight of districts in receivership from the California Department of Education to county offices of education, LACOE partnered closely with IUSD to lead the next phase of its transformation. Under the leadership of County Administrators Dr. Erika Torres and Dr. James Morris, the district implemented lasting changes that strengthened internal systems, increased accountability and established sustainable practices designed to support student success well into the future.

Today's announcement follows the release of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team’s (FCMAT) 2026 Progress Report, which found that the district has met all 153 standards for the first time in the district's history since entering state receivership.Financial Management and Facilities Management received their highest ratings to date, and no remaining standards scored below a four. The report also notes that Community Relations and Governance, Personnel Management and Pupil Achievement have advanced enough that those areas no longer require annual review.

"This celebration belongs to the entire Inglewood community," said Dr. Carliss McGhee, President of the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education. "Students, families, employees and community partners have stood by this district through every challenge. Today we celebrate that progress together, and we look forward to the day when local leadership is fully restored."

"This milestone reflects years of thoughtful planning and steady work to make sure the district is ready for the future," said Dr. James Morris, County Administrator for Inglewood Unified School District. "Every improvement we've made has been about creating a stronger school district for students and building systems that will last long after the transition is complete."

One year remains, but today is about celebrating everything that has already been accomplished. Under California law, Inglewood Unified must maintain all FCMAT standards for a second consecutive year before the next phase of the receivership exit process can begin. Over the next 12 months, IUSD will continue working with LACOE and state education partners to complete the remaining steps toward returning to local governance. As the district enters this final year, leaders remain focused on maintaining the strong foundation that has been built and creating even greater opportunities for students.