BALTIMORE – The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners has approved Baltimore City Public Schools’ (City Schools) $1.95 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget, reflecting sustained focus; intentional, targeted investment; and a continued commitment to accelerating progress and strengthening outcomes for students. The budget will next be presented to the Baltimore City Council.
The FY27 budget reflects a comprehensive investment approach— strategically braiding local, state, and federal resources to maximize impact, accelerate progress, and support long-term, sustainable improvement. It is informed by community feedback and aligned with the Board’s four key focus areas: More High-Performing Schools, School Portfolio Strategy, Students with Diverse Learning Needs, and School Climate and Student Well-Being. Investment highlights in each of these focus areas include:
More High-Performing Schools:
$7 million in 25 Focus Forward Improvement Community (FFIC) schools, to support literacy and math coaching, tutoring, intervention programs, and professional learning for school teams;
$33 million for literacy and math coaches;
$5.4 million in summer learning;
$2.68 million in Mathematics High-Quality Instructional Materials.
School Portfolio Strategies:
$17.4 million for community school coordinators and community school lead agency costs;
$7.7 million for Judy Centers;
$19.7 million for Vocational teachers, including Career and Technology educators;
$2.9 million for the Re-Engagement Center.
Serving Students with Diverse Learning Needs:
$4.45 million towards Multilingual Learner Supports, including MESC and School Success Liaisons and Interpreters.
$5.2 million for Extended School Year (ESY) for Students with IEPs
$1.2 million towards credit recovery
School Climate and Student Well-Being:
$41.4 million in fine arts teachers and additional school spending
$24.3 million toward counselors and post-secondary advisors
$50.4 million towards social workers and psychologists
$6.6 million towards athletic trainers, coaching stipends, and centrally coordinated costs, plus additional school spending
The FY27 budget is the final under CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises’ guidance and leadership, which sustains major programming and anchors student success and continued, future progress. Learn more about the budget here: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/page/budget.
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