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The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a fiscal 2026 budget on May 22 that raises employee compensation while making significant cuts to close a $121 million shortfall.

The spending plan accompanies the school division’s first collective bargaining agreement in recent history. Employees represented by the Fairfax Education Unions will receive a 6% increase, while employees outside the unions will receive a 5% increase.

Fairfax County Public Schools said years of chronic underfunding created the budget gap. Officials sought to preserve classroom services, but the adopted reductions will still affect staffing, instructional resources and other programs.

The division will adjust its staffing formula to reduce the number of general education teachers, primarily through attrition. It will also eliminate funding for classroom monitors and postpone purchases of social studies curriculum materials.

Every central office department will have its budget reduced by 3%, as will the School Board office. Funding for electric buses will be paused, and spending on non-local professional-development travel will be cut in half.

Central funding will also decline for Advanced Academic Resource Teachers and elementary special education department chairs. Regional leaders will work with schools to identify school-based money that could preserve those positions for at least the coming year.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid described the reductions as difficult choices and said the division remains focused on using available money effectively while supporting students, employees and its broader mission.

School Board Chair and Providence District representative Karl Frisch said the cuts require sacrifices throughout the school system. While calling the compensation agreement historic progress, he said the reductions also demonstrate the need for stronger collaboration with county and state funding partners.

With the fiscal 2026 budget settled, FCPS will begin preparing for fiscal 2027. Reid and the School Board plan to start discussions with county and state officials about sharing responsibility during the next budget process.