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Baltimore County Public Schools urges full funding of FY26 request, highlights special education needs
Summary
BCPS officials and supporters told the county executive and council that fully funding the school system's FY26 budget is critical to retaining staff, supporting nearly 16,000 special education students and maintaining recent gains in student services and facilities.
Baltimore County Public Schools officials asked county leaders to fully fund the FY26 budget proposal, emphasizing special education services and the system's recruitment and retention challenges.
Why it matters: BCPS officials said inadequate funding would force cuts that could harm student achievement, staffing and services, particularly for students with disabilities.
Joelle Bilski, director of staff relations at BCPS, said the district is facing recruitment and retention problems nationwide and that Superintendent Dr. Rogers has scrutinized the budget to protect students and staffing. "If this budget is not funded, we will be forced to make additional cuts that will negatively impact student achievement and disrupt our forward progress," Bilski said.
Allison Myers, executive director for special education, said nearly 16,000 students currently receive special education services in Baltimore County. Myers said the proposed FY26 budget prioritizes funding for nonpublic placement expenses, related services such as speech and occupational therapy, and special educators for transition programs.
"These funds reflect the actual expenses of the school system and are therefore critical to ensuring the provision of legally mandated services to our students," Myers said. Speakers warned that failure to fund the request could reduce service levels and hinder compliance with state and federal obligations.
Ending: BCPS asked the county to sustain recent investments in staffing, facilities and special-education supports during the FY26 budget process; officials said they would continue working with the administration to align resources with student needs.
