Los Angeles Unified School District

Crawford et al. v. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles et al. was a case in which the California Supreme Court ordered the Los Angeles Unified School District to formulate a feasible plan to desegregate its schools. In 1977 the LAUSD came up with a plan that was later deemed one of if not the most drastic plans of mandatory student reassignment in the nation. The board proposed a desegregation busing plan which would be implemented in 1978. In response to the proposal the group Bustop Inc. filed two lawsuits which were petitioned to the United States Supreme Court to stop the enforced busing plan. Both lawsuits were titled Bustop, Inc. v. Los Angeles Board of Education and the Supreme Court denied both petitions. Following the proposed busing plan, California voters ratified California Constitutional Proposition 1 to stop mandatory pupil reassignment and busing within the LAUSD unless the reassignment was mandated by a federal court to remedy a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Federal Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment. The proposition passed in 1979 with 70% of the vote. In 1982, the Supreme Court heard the case and the Court agreed that Proposition 1 did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment.

From the description of Crawford et al. v. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles et al. records, 1976-1980. (San Leandro Community Library). WorldCat record id: 688627925

Historical note

Crawford et al. v. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles et al. was a case in which the California Supreme Court ordered the Los Angeles Unified School District to formulate a feasible plan to desegregate its schools. In 1977 the LAUSD came up with a plan that was later deemed one of if not the most drastic plans of mandatory student reassignment in the nation. The board proposed a desegregation busing plan which would be implemented in 1978. In response to the proposal the group Bustop Inc. filed two lawsuits which were petitioned to the United States Supreme Court to stop the enforced busing plan. Both lawsuits were titled Bustop, Inc. v. Los Angeles Board of Education and the Supreme Court denied both petitions.

Following the proposed busing plan, California voters ratified California Constitutional Proposition 1 to stop mandatory pupil reassignment and busing within the LAUSD unless the reassignment was mandated by a federal court to remedy a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Federal Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment. The proposition passed in 1979 with 70% of the vote. In 1982, the Supreme Court heard the case and the Court agreed that Proposition 1 did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment.

From the guide to the Crawford et al. v. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles et al. records, 1976-1980, (USC Libraries Special Collections)