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The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved its fiscal year 2027 budget May 21, directing $180.7 million toward employee agreements while restoring several positions and programs cut during the previous fiscal year.

The spending plan comes as Fairfax County Public Schools faces economic uncertainty and what the school system describes as persistent underfunding from the state. More than 85% of the budget will continue to go directly toward instruction.

The budget provides $163 million for the collective bargaining agreement with the Fairfax Education Unions, representing licensed instructional and operational employees. Another $17.7 million will support compensation adjustments under the agreement covering Fairfax County Federation of Principals, Supervisors, and Administrators bargaining units.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid said the plan balances careful management of public money with continued investment in the employees and programs supporting FCPS students.

The budget fully restores special education department chair positions. It also fully restores Advanced Academic Resource Teacher positions previously reduced at non-Title I schools, in part to help schools smoothly introduce Algebra I in sixth grade.

General education staffing formula adjustments will be partially restored at elementary, middle and high schools. The Middle School After School and Value in Prevention programs will continue receiving support.

To manage remaining financial pressure, FCPS will reduce its staffing reserve and the superintendent’s strategic reserve. The division also plans to use alternative funding for major maintenance, extend the replacement cycle for FCPSOn technology devices, defer microcredentialing initiatives and reduce materials purchased for the math curriculum adoption.

School Board Chair Sandy Anderson said continued investment in students, employees and programs is necessary to sustain the county’s public schools. She also emphasized collaboration with county and state partners.

The school system pointed to several recent results as signs of its performance. 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 also reported a 37% year-over-year increase in National Merit semifinalists.