On Wednesday, March 19, the Prince William County School Board approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget, solidifying a $1.89 billion investment in student achievement, workforce support, and operational efficiency.

"The School Board has worked very hard to develop a budget that reflects our values—this budget does just that,” said Babur Lateef, M.D., Chairman At-Large of the School Board. “We continue to commit to record raises for teachers and improving our competitiveness in the region for attracting and retaining the top talent.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade emphasized that the budget aligns with the Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan, ensuring financial resources directly support the district’s strategic priorities.

“The FY 2026 budget represents our continued commitment to the bold priorities and goals in the PWCS Vision 2025 Strategic Plan, which is designed to ensure every student has access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to thrive," said Superintendent Dr. McDade.

A significant highlight of the FY 2026 budget is implementing the first year of a historic two-year wage agreement, totaling more than $160 million. This includes back-to-back average pay raises of 7% in the first year and 6.4% in the second year, as well as adjustments to the certified pay scale and supplements at or above the regional median. Adjustments to the certified pay scale and supplements will ensure compensation remains competitive across the region.

Responding to the two-year wage agreement, Dr. McDade added, “This historic two-year wage agreement is a significant investment that bolsters our workforce, adds critical positions, and provides classroom support crucial to delivering and, ultimately, improving on student outcomes.”

Beyond salary increases, the budget allocates funding for additional personnel to enhance student services and school operations. These investments include 50 new special education teacher assistants, 15 behavior specialists, and eight graduation coaches to support at-risk students.

To improve student learning outcomes, the budget dedicates $28.9 million to Learning and Achievement for All initiatives. This includes hiring more educators to reduce English learner student-teacher ratios, ensuring students receive individualized instruction. Five new school psychologists will also be added to strengthen student mental health services.

PWCS prioritizes school climate and student behavior support by funding a dean of students in every middle and high school. Additional investments include expanding social worker support, increasing security personnel, and funding initiatives to improve student engagement.

Dr. Lateef concluded, “This budget is laser-focused on improving student achievement for every single student across the county. We continue to prioritize the strategic plan which was developed by our entire community. Doing so over the last four years has made Prince William County Public Schools one of the best school districts in the nation."

Following the School Board’s approval, the FY 2026 budget will be presented to the Prince William County Board of Supervisors on April 1. Once finalized, these investments will help PWCS continue to provide high-quality education, support staff retention, and enhance student well-being.

For more details on the budget and next steps, visit the PWCS Budget website.