Talking Points - FY Advertised Budget
Fiscal Year (FY) 2025
Background
The School Board adopted the FY 2025 Advertised Budget during their board meeting on February 22. The budget totals $3.8 billion, an increase of $301.8 million, or 8.6%, over the FY 2024 Approved Budget. The superintendent is requesting an additional $254.0 million, or a 10.5% increase, from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Providing competitive compensation for all Fairfax County Public Schools employees -- a budget priority -- is addressed with a 6.0% market scale adjustment for all employees.
While the FY 2025 Advertised Budget addresses our most pressing needs, we are faced with the prospect of the budget being underfunded. The State of Virginia has historically underfunded FCPS by continuing to use outdated staffing formulas that leave school districts around the Commonwealth lacking the meaningful support needed for excellence in public education. Virginia provides less funding per student than many of our neighboring states including Maryland, Kentucky, and West Virginia. (See JLARC talking points.) Additionally, the average adopted County transfer to FCPS over the five-year period (FY 2019-23) was 52.6% of County disbursements. The County’s FY 2025 budget proposal provides FCPS 51.4%, a difference of $63 million.
Key Messages
General
- FCPS’ FY 2025 Advertised Budget is a needs-based budget that represents the funding needed to support schools.
- It focuses on educational excellence for each and every student and competitive compensation for our hard-working, dedicated, and results-driven staff.
- The budget is closely aligned with FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which seeks a strong academic start for our youngest students and prepares our graduates for a thriving future.
- Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction.
#InvestInExcellence
- From FY19 to FY23, the average County transfer from Fairfax County to FCPS was 52.6% of County disbursements. In FY23, that number was 52.2%. It dipped to 51.6% in FY24.
- The County’s FY25 budget proposal provides 51.4%. If the County returns to 52.6% for the upcoming year, that would equate to $63 million more as an investment in excellence.
- The FY25 Advertised Budget is fiscally responsible and reasonable. Our local transfer request for a 10.5% increase is less than Loudoun County Public Schools’ (11.3%) and Prince William County Public Schools’ (10.6%).
- There are no new initiatives included in our budget request. We are focusing on what is needed to continue to ensure excellence in our schools.
- The FY 2025 Advertised Budget is back to basics with a priority on recruitment and retention. Our students deserve a certified teacher in every classroom.
- FCPS is the largest school division in Virginia, but when compared to neighboring school districts, we are near the bottom in teacher pay.
- Failing to prioritize equitable compensation for our teachers undermines quality instruction and threatens the long-term success of our community. We cannot expect top performers to come and stay at FCPS if we do not pay them top wages.
- Overall FCPS enrollment is expected to have increased 2.3% since FY23. Growth in special population groups is far greater with FRM enrollment expected to be up 19.4%, ESOL 12.9%, and special education 10.7%. The subset of special education that is preschool students is up 47.2%.
- The budget acknowledges the growing demands on public education including expansion of preschool, intensive family engagement, updated technology, green school initiatives, increased mental health services as well as additional support for athletics and fine arts.
- FCPS remains in the middle of all districts in the Washington area for cost per pupil spending.
Budget Priority Details
Prioritizing Competitive Compensation
As with the FY 2024 budget, the FY 2025 Advertised Budget remains committed to making FCPS the employer of choice for outstanding educators and staff. To support that goal, the budget includes:
- $170.7 million to provide a market scale adjustment of 6% for all employees.
- $55.3 million for the recurring cost of a 2.0% compensation supplement adopted by the General Assembly during FY 2024.
- $0.3 million for a market cyclical review of school-based office positions.
Additionally, to address retention and succession planning, FCPS is recommending an ERFC Legacy Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP). This program allows eligible employees to continue working beyond their retirement eligibility while continuing to accumulate retirement benefits.
Additional Support for All Students
- The budget includes $46.6 million to maintain existing class size formulas and provides necessary support to students.
- Of the $46.6 million investment, $7.8 million is needed to cover an increase of 1,749 students compared to the FY 2024 projection.
- The balance of funding, $38.8 million, will provide additional support to students as indicated by free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education services, or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services.
Continuation of Multiyear Initiatives
- Inclusive Preschool Expansion: $2.1 million toward expanding inclusive preschool programs, where children under 5 years old with and without disabilities can learn and grow together.
- Joint Environmental Task Force’s (JET): $1.9 million for final Year 3 recommendations which support carbon neutrality, Get2Green, and electric buses.
- Fine and Performing Arts Stipends: $1.1 million to extra duty supplements for theater production roles, drumline, and color guard.
- Expanding Athletics: $0.8 million to offer high school boys volleyball and girls wrestling. This will broaden opportunities for students to find or nurture their passion and enhance their wellbeing.
- HR Technology Infrastructure Project Year 3: $0.7 million to update and fully automate the workflow system to support core operations for the school division.
- Certified Athletic Trainers Year 2: $0.6 million to address the second year of a five-year plan to provide one additional certified athletic trainer at each high school.
The budget also continues to fund assistant director of student activities positions previously funded with ESSER III.
Special education daily contract extensions, funding for the safety and security screening program, and late buses to support academics and activities at middle schools are several of the priorities to be addressed at year end.
Key Dates
February 27 - Joint County and School Board Budget Committee Meeting
March 5 - Board of Supervisors Advertises Tax Rate
April 9 - School Board Conducts Budget Work Session
May 9 - Approved Budget Presented to School Board
May 14 - School Board Holds Public Hearing on Budget
May 23 - School Board Adopts Approved Budget