Boston Public Schools’ proposed FY2027 budget projects 300–400 staff cuts amid rising costs and enrollment decline

Budget proposal points to layoffs alongside new spending priorities

Boston Public Schools has outlined a proposed budget for the 2026–2027 school year that district leaders say will likely require cuts of roughly 300 to 400 staff positions, with teachers and paraprofessionals among those most affected. The proposal, presented to the Boston School Committee this week, reflects a spending increase over the current year but also a mismatch between revenue growth and projected cost increases.

District leaders described the coming fiscal year as a period of constrained choices driven by inflationary pressures, contractual obligations, and declining enrollment. The spending plan is expected to move through a public review process before votes by the School Committee and the Boston City Council.

How large the budget is, and what is driving the gap

The district’s proposed FY2027 budget totals about $1.7 billion, representing an increase of approximately 4.5%—about $74 million—over the current year. District leadership has said that projected costs are expected to rise by about $86 million, with major drivers including employee health insurance, transportation, out-of-district special education placements, and labor contracts.

School officials have also pointed to enrollment declines as a structural factor shaping staffing levels. The FY2027 proposal incorporates a projected decline of about 3,000 students since the fall of 2024, and district leaders argue that fewer students generally translates into fewer classroom-based positions.

Where cuts could fall, and how school closures factor in

Administrators indicated that the reductions would be spread across the system and would include more than 200 teaching positions as well as more than 100 paraprofessional, support, and administrative roles. District officials said a significant share of the reductions is connected to staffing associated with school buildings scheduled to close, and that a portion of the eliminated jobs are currently vacant positions, which can reduce the number of layoffs required to reach the targeted savings.

The budget discussion comes as the district continues to adjust its building footprint amid lower enrollment and higher operating costs. Officials have described the closures as part of a broader effort to align resources with current student counts and program demand.

Existing constraints: deficit management and a hiring pause

The FY2027 outlook follows financial strain in the current fiscal year. The district has reported a projected $53 million deficit for the year ending in June, and leadership recently implemented a hiring pause and broader spending controls, with exceptions for roles tied to direct student services. Officials have described the steps as part of a near-term strategy to finish the fiscal year on budget while planning for the next cycle.

What happens next

The Boston School Committee is scheduled to take public testimony as the budget proceeds through hearings and deliberations. The administration has framed the proposal as an effort to preserve investments in priority areas—such as inclusive education and bilingual programming—while addressing cost growth and enrollment shifts.

• Projected staff reductions: approximately 300–400 positions districtwide
• Largest cost pressures cited: health insurance, transportation, out-of-district special education, labor contracts
• Enrollment assumption in the plan: about 3,000 fewer students since fall 2024

The budget debate is expected to focus on how the district can balance staffing reductions with maintaining classroom support and specialized services as costs rise faster than revenues.