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Proposed FY2026 Budget Released
Last Thursday, the Superintendent proposed her FY2026 budget. Below, you will find a video of my comments about the values I am committed to funding and defending this year in Fairfax County. I know there is a lot of uncertainty in the community surrounding federal funding of programs, and specifically K-12 public education. Rest assured that the Superintendent and her staff are diligently monitoring the situation. For your information, FCPS currently relies on $168 million in federal funding, with every penny of that going to programs that support vulnerable kids. An area of particular concern for me is the $58m of federal funding that feeds hungry children. I am committed to doing everything I can to make sure that we continue to feed all kids, regardless of the federal funding situation.
Click here for School Board Member Kyle McDaniel's comments on the proposed budget
"I believe in this community...and I'm looking forward to our conversation about funding our shared values."
Joint Statement from Budget Chair Kyle McDaniel and Vice Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer
“As the Chair and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee for the School Board, we wanted to take this opportunity to share our perspective on the Superintendent's proposed budget and the current fiscal moment.
“We are facing a tremendous funding gap from the state, as well as escalating student needs as our population changes, with the continued expectation that FCPS provide the best public education in America. Our schools are an important economic driver for the County and often cited as a major reason businesses and families relocate here. Schools today are expected to do much more than they have in the past - from providing meals, addressing root causes of absenteeism, engaging families, providing technology, and acting as community centers. Finally, as we have learned more about what our students need, demand for new and different services have increased, from the mental health resources that we make available to all students to a higher percentage of students who require greater levels of support. While maintaining high educational standards, our teachers and principals are also expected, much like our public safety professionals, to serve as social workers, counselors, technology experts, and security personnel while engaging families at higher levels than before.
“We must also recognize the fiscal reality that we find ourselves in. Local taxpayers understandably are fatigued. We recognize that, more than ever, we must be good stewards of public funds. In preparing this budget, the superintendent has considered ways that she can save costs and provide services in a more efficient manner. That consideration is something that we welcome as School Board Members and it will be a part of the dialogue we have with her. We know also that our partners in the state legislature and at the County Board of Supervisors believe in strong schools and are committed to funding them. We understand the realities they face and we are committed to being responsible partners.
“As a commitment to managing resources effectively, FCPS’s overhead is much lower than surrounding jurisdictions while the bulk of our staff directly supports students in the classroom. FCPS has the lowest ratio of central administrative staff in the region and the second lowest ratio of school-based administrative staff in the region (WABE Guide). FCPS spends below the median per pupil cost for school systems in the region. We are also the lowest in the region in terms of teachers to school-based administrators - for every 100 teachers, there are less than five administrators providing support and professional development.
“We recognize that excellent schools require excellent teachers. This budget places a significant priority on recruiting and retaining teachers as the driver of student success, with compensation increases that are in line with our surrounding jurisdictions. We cannot fall behind our surrounding jurisdictions without risking losing our best teachers and staff.
FCPS’ fiscally responsible proposed budget presents what is needed to maintain our current level of educational services. We are at a crossroads with respect to the quality of our public schools and as a community must decide if we want to continue the excellence for which FCPS is known. We are confident our community and elected leaders believe in the power and promise of our schools and will continue to fund this important community resource."
For more information about FCPS's FY2026 budget, please click this link.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
Web | Phone: 571-423-1090
Laura Stokes, Staff Aide, 571-279-4490