School Board Adopts $804 Million FY 2024 Budget

• Includes funding for student well-being and academic progress
• Provides compensation adjustment to all employees
• Improves operational efficiency

The Arlington School Board adopted its FY 2024 budget totaling $804,392,800 at its May 11 meeting. The FY24 budget requires an on-going County Transfer of $594,385,235, a one-time County Transfer of $13,841,500, a Beginning Balance or Carry Forward of $3,500,000, and funding from Reserves of $41,701,121.

“On behalf of the School Board, we are proud to approve a budget that prioritizes investments in student success, student well-being, school safety, and competitive compensation for our high-quality staff,” said School Board Chair Reid Goldstein. “The budget process has incorporated feedback from six Budget Work Sessions, over 100 detailed budget questions, innumerable one-on-one conversations with each other, and from public comment and dozens of community emails over the last 2 ½ months. I want to thank my colleagues for their cooperation and creativity, and also the dozens of employees who contributed to developing this budget.”

“Our staff are our greatest asset, and the approved budget continues to invest in compensation and resources to support their work,” said Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán. “The budget also reflects our focus on school safety and making sure our students have the academic, social and emotional support and resources they need to succeed. We were intentional about investing in positions and resources that are school-based or directly support and benefit students and schools.”

The FY24 budget prioritizes resources to foster student well-being and academic success. It also adds 127.45 full-time positions that are either school-based or directly supporting schools. The FY24 budget also invests in compensation and the school division’s commitment to hire and retain high quality staff to serve diverse student needs and improves operational efficiency. The adopted FY24 budget includes funding for School Board priorities in three primary areas:

Priority 1: Student well-being and academic progress with a focus on innovation, equity, and evidence-based practices

• Intervention school counselors for middle and high schools
• Deans of Students to provide additional support with addressing student behaviors and restorative practices for the comprehensive high schools as well as Gunston, Jefferson and Kenmore middle schools
• Additional substance abuse counselors to assist with education and prevention efforts
• School health coordinator
• Stipends for designated SEL leads at every school

Academic Support and Enrollment:

• Funding for changing student enrollment needs
• Targeted instructional resources for all schools to support student achievement and address achievement gaps
• Virtual tutoring services
• Increased resources and supports for special education students and English learners, as well other students needing extra assistance
• K-8 math interventionists and math coaches at the elementary level, the Career Center and H-B Woodlawn
• Additional summer school resources and funding to provide free summer school meals for all elementary students
• Additional translators to assist with translating documents for Limited English Proficient (LEP) families as well as for parent-teacher conference days
• A Career and Technical Education teacher specialist

Priority 2: Recruit, hire, retain, and invest in a high-quality workforce to ensure APS is the place where talented individuals choose to work. 

• An investment of $25.6 million to provide a compensation adjustment to all employees, including a step increase to eligible employees and a 3% cost of living adjustment for all employees.
• For our teachers, the average pay increase will be 5.2%.
• Administrators and professionals will receive an average pay increase of 5.13% next year.
• The average pay increase next year for our support staff will be 6.18%.
• Overall, our employees will receive an average pay increase of 5.26%.
• An investment of $2 million in Compensation Changes, including:
• Summer School bonus for teachers and assistants
• Increased substitute teacher pay rates and substitute coverage pay for teachers
• Mentor teacher stipends to provide additional support for first-year teachers
• Funding for two weeks of paid parental leave

Priority 3: Improve operational efficiency

• Safety and security enhancements including additional school safety coordinators, security cameras and additional safety and security resources
• Network infrastructure and technology supports and upgrades
• System-wide operations improvements

Details on the School Board’s FY24 budget is available on BoardDocs and additional details on the FY24 budget process is available online.