The Montgomery County Board of Education on Thursday adopted a $3.72 billion Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), finalizing a spending plan that district leaders say protects classroom instruction and key student services despite a $36 million shortfall from the school system’s original request.
The adopted budget includes the reduction of 415 positions across MCPS as the district works to align spending with available funding. School system leaders said the cuts were necessary to close the budget gap while preserving classroom instruction, student support services, school safety staffing, and college and career readiness programs.
Board President Grace Rivera-Oven and Superintendent Thomas Taylor acknowledged the difficult decisions required to balance the budget, emphasizing that protecting teaching and learning remained the district’s top priority.
“We cannot spend money we do not have,” Rivera-Oven said. “These were agonizing choices. Nobody runs for the Board to make reductions. But true leadership demands that we confront reality exactly as it is. In a fiscal reality like this one, we must accept that we cannot be everything to everyone. We had to fiercely focus every remaining dollar on our core mission: teaching and learning.”
Taylor said the adopted budget reflects difficult tradeoffs while recognizing the impact staffing reductions will have across the school system. “This is not the budget we hoped to bring forward, and these are not decisions anyone takes lightly,” Taylor said. “Behind every position reduction is a person who has dedicated themselves to serving our students, families and schools.”
According to MCPS, the final budget restores and protects several key areas that had been under consideration for reductions. The Board restored 18 school psychologist positions to maintain student mental health supports and preserved other student support services, including pupil personnel workers and family engagement specialists, although some areas will operate at reduced capacity.
The budget also fully restores 15 staff development teacher positions and 26 college and career navigator positions, maintaining support for teacher training and student graduation planning.
School safety staffing will remain intact, including the 21 elementary school security assistant positions added during the previous fiscal year. In addition, MCPS will continue its $5 million investment in College and Career Readiness programs to meet Maryland Blueprint requirements.
District leaders noted that financial challenges are expected to continue into future budget cycles but pledged to maintain transparency and accountability while continuing to support students, families and staff.
The Fiscal Year 2027 budget takes effect July 1.
