Article Text

Fairfax County Public Schools must close a $28 million funding gap as the School Board approaches its final vote on the fiscal year 2027 budget.

The shortfall reflects Fairfax County’s adopted budget and continued uncertainty over Virginia’s state budget. Superintendent Michelle Reid has proposed covering the difference through several reductions and delays, including shrinking the staffing reserve, using alternative funding for major maintenance and extending the replacement cycle for FCPSOn technology devices.

Her proposal also would defer microcredentialing, reduce spending on math curriculum materials and cut the Superintendent’s Strategic Reserve. Additional state funding could allow FCPS to revise those plans after lawmakers complete the budget process in Richmond.

The FY27 plan is intended to meet collective bargaining commitments while reversing some of the reductions made in FY26. It would partially restore a staffing formula change that increased class sizes and fully restore Special Education Department Chair positions and Advanced Academic Resource Teacher positions at non-Title I schools.

The Middle School After School and Value in Prevention programs also would continue next school year.

FCPS reported that it has managed expenses through monthly budget oversight, monitoring vacancies and limiting external hiring. The division said 97% of employees intend to return for the 2026-27 school year.

The district also pointed to several recent achievements: All FCPS schools are fully accredited under Virginia’s new Standards of Accreditation, and the division has more schools rated Distinguished or On Track than the rest of the commonwealth combined. FCPS educates one-quarter of Virginia’s multilingual learners and recorded a 37% year-over-year increase in National Merit semifinalists.

FCPS was also named a recipient of the Partnership for Excellence’s 2026 Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence. It was the first education applicant to earn the Gold Award on its first application.

The School Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget Tuesday, May 12, before taking its final vote Thursday, May 21.