Boston Public Schools presents $1.58 billion FY26 plan as teachers ratify contract; City budget and federal relief still in flux

Boston Public Schools presented its $1.58 billion fiscal year 2026 spending plan to the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14, with system leaders emphasizing investments aimed at students with disabilities, multilingual learners and expanded secondary pathways.

The plan, which Superintendent (unnamed in the transcript) described as a “$1,580,000,000 spending plan,” was introduced as part of the council’s multi‑week budget review. The presentation came after the Boston Teachers Union voted to ratify a 2024–2027 contract; the district said the agreement includes wage increases that will “make a big difference” for paraprofessionals and ABA specialists.

Why it matters: The budget sets spending priorities that the school system and City Hall will reconcile as the council’s budget hearings continue. The contract and federal relief timing affect staffing, program continuity and whether the district can sustain recent investments made during the pandemic relief era.

Most important facts - Superintendent (unnamed) told the committee the FY26 school budget totals $1,580,000,000 and that roughly 93% of funding is allocated “directly to student services, including school budgets.” - The Boston Teachers Union ratified a 2024–2027 collective bargaining agreement that the district said will raise paraprofessional pay “up to a 30% increase” and ABA specialist pay “up to a 28% increase.” School Committee and the City Council will consider the contract’s supplemental appropriations, which the superintendent said total “approximately $62,000,000.” - Chief Financial Officer David Bloom told the committee the district completed four main ARPA projects and still has about $3,500,000 in ESSER funds outstanding; state guidance, Bloom said, makes about half of that “completely safe” while about $2,000,000 remains at risk.

Supporting details and context Superintendent (unnamed) framed the budget after two months of school committee hearings and thanked the council for prior engagement. “This budget reflects a more typical growth level of 3.5%,” the superintendent said, adding the district applied a zero‑sum approach to central budgets and prioritized funds for schools. The presentation listed priority areas that align with today’s hearing: inclusive education, multilingual learners, special education services, curricular materials and secondary pathways.

David Bloom, the district’s chief financial officer, gave details about federal relief and timing. Bloom said the district had applied for extensions on ESSER funds but ultimately spent much of its allocations before deadlines; the remaining $3.5 million in ESSER funds, he said, carries “about $2,000,000 of risk, but we think we're going to be able to work with the state on that.”

Councilors pressed the district about uncertainty at the federal level, including potential changes to Title funding and the loss of a large bilingual grant that supported paraprofessional‑to‑teacher pipelines; the superintendent called that grant loss “devastating.”

Quotes - "We are presenting our $1,580,000,000 spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year," Superintendent (unnamed). - "This contract includes a wage increase for all members," Superintendent (unnamed), describing the BTU agreement. - "We have about $3,500,000 of funds outstanding for ESSER... Our best guidance from the state is that half of that is completely safe... right now, there's about $2,000,000 of risk," David Bloom, Chief Financial Officer.

What’s next The School Committee is expected to vote on the collective bargaining agreement, including two supplemental appropriations, on April 16; the contract and requested supplemental funds will then come before the City Council. The Ways and Means Committee will continue FY26 budget hearings through June to reconcile school requests with the mayor’s $4.8 billion city budget.

Ending note Superintendent (unnamed) and BPS finance staff committed to returning with more detail as the council’s review continues and asked councilors and community members to use the scheduled public testimony hearings on April 22 and May 28 to provide feedback.