As federal COVID relief funds dwindle, public school districts across the United States are contending with budget deficits, prompting layoffs of teachers and staff. According to David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, approximately 1,600 California educators and school personnel recently received layoff notices — a substantial surge compared to previous years, as reported by The Orange County Register.
In Fort Worth, Texas, 133 employees were handed pink slips amidst a looming $44 million budget shortfall for the Fort Worth Independent School District in the upcoming year. The layoffs come after the district cut 200 positions for the 2022-2023 academic year due to an $80 million deficit.
Meanwhile, in Howard County, Maryland, the local school district anticipates slashing 348 jobs due to a budget shortfall of $103 million.
Several common factors contribute to the implementation of layoffs by school boards. Firstly, with the cessation of federal COVID funds, some districts, which had been operating at budgets inflated by up to 40% before the pandemic, now face stark realities. Secondly, public schools nationwide have witnessed a decline in student enrollment, directly affecting funding formulas.
According to The Wall Street Journal, student enrollment in Fort Worth ISD dropped by 10% between 2019 and 2021, exacerbating financial strains.
Throughout the pandemic, some parents opted to withdraw their children from public schools, either for homeschooling or enrollment in private or charter institutions.
The influx of students into public schools could potentially bolster state funding.
As early as 2023, school finance experts had warned of an impending “fiscal cliff” for certain districts as COVID relief funds dwindled.