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Fairfax County Public Schools says the county’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget leaves the division $150 million short, creating the possibility of larger classes, fewer services and changes to planned employee raises.

Superintendent Michelle Reid told student journalists from 24 FCPS high schools on April 9 that the division could not absorb the gap without affecting students’ classroom experience.

The shortfall represents 3.75% of FCPS’ proposed $4 billion budget, meaning more than 96% of the spending plan is funded. Instruction, employee salaries and benefits account for 85.2% of the proposed budget.

Chantilly High School student journalist Advik Sood asked Reid what would happen if FCPS did not receive full funding.

“The ramifications are that we aren’t going to pay for the things that we budgeted to have,” Reid said.

She described the school system as being at a crossroads, with little room to make reductions without jeopardizing classroom quality. If the county does not provide the full requested transfer, Reid said FCPS could face higher class sizes and fewer services in some areas.

County and state funding dominate the budget

County and state revenue together provide 95.8% of FCPS’ operating funds. The county’s advertised fiscal 2026 budget includes a requested transfer of $2.9 billion to the school system.

Projected state support totals $1.019 billion, including sales-tax revenue, and represents 25.2% of operating revenue.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in April that his budget amendments would bring annual education funding for FCPS to about $1 billion, the largest allocation for any Virginia school district. State figures show direct aid rising from $689.1 million in fiscal 2019 to $1.048 billion in fiscal 2025, with $1.059 billion proposed for fiscal 2026 if the amendments are adopted.

FCPS also receives $168 million in federal assistance for free and reduced-price meals, special education and student-support programs. Reductions in that aid could force the county to cover additional costs, potentially putting pressure on teacher compensation and other services.

The school system also faces uncertainty over previously promised COVID-19 relief funding. On March 28, 2025, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon notified state education officials that the deadline for spending extended American Rescue Plan funds was being moved from March 30, 2026, to that same day.

Pay, programs and class sizes draw student concern

Students at Reid’s roundtable raised questions about program reductions, teacher salaries and the prospect of larger classes.

One student asked how FCPS decides which programs to reduce, citing reports that a middle school after-school program could be eliminated.

Reid said the school division had not planned to eliminate programs and had instead focused on efficiencies. She said the after-school program in question was funded by the county, which had chosen to cut it, rather than by FCPS.

Rebecca Paz of Marshall High School asked how teachers were responding to the budget debate. Reid said the spending plan includes a 7% compensation adjustment for all employees following the school system’s first collective-bargaining process.

That increase is not guaranteed, however. Reid said a failure to secure full funding would likely require FCPS to return to the bargaining table to determine how to proceed.

FCPS is the nation’s ninth-largest school division, operating 199 schools and centers. It serves nearly 183,000 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade, with more than 200 languages spoken across the system.

Reid told the student journalists that Fairfax schools are among the county’s greatest priorities and a major reason families choose to live there. She urged students to study the budget documents and demand accountability from elected officials because spending decisions shape their education and future opportunities.

Despite recognition for its demanding curriculum, graduation rates and the share of students who pursue higher education, FCPS was not listed among the top 100—or even the top 500—districts in Niche’s 2025 ranking of America’s best school systems.

County weighs taxes and spending cuts

The school funding dispute comes as Fairfax County confronts its own projected $300 million budget deficit. Board documents show supervisors considering a 4% meals tax, a 2% transient occupancy tax affecting the hospitality industry and $60 million in spending reductions.

Residents are also confronting higher property assessments. Fairfax County mailed more than 357,000 updated real estate assessment notices for 2025.

Residential assessments increased by an average of 6.65% because of market-driven changes, bringing the average home assessment to $794,235. The countywide average was $744,526 in 2024. County officials attributed the increase in home prices to demand exceeding supply.

Fairfax County’s average effective property-tax rate is 1.03%, compared with a national average of 0.90%. High local property values nevertheless result in substantial tax bills, fueling concern among residents about additional school funding requests.

The Fairfax County Taxpayer’s Alliance planned a “Taxpayers Rally” for 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. The all-volunteer organization argues that county real estate taxes have risen three times faster than household income over 25 years. It also points to a reported 40-point decline in FCPS SAT scores between 2019 and 2024 while school spending increased by $600 million.

Public hearings on the county budget were scheduled for April 22, 23 and 24 before the Board of Supervisors. Residents could also submit feedback through the county’s budget-priorities survey.

After the hearings, supervisors were expected to decide on the property-tax rate and proposed meals tax by May 6.