PGCPS seeks $50M from county as $150M internal cuts protect instruction

Prince George’s County Public Schools has asked the county for $50 million in one-time stabilization aid after detailing $150 million in internal reductions intended to shield classroom instruction from deeper cuts. The district published a special Dollars & Decisions budget installment on Jan. 16 that framed the FY27 situation as a funding emergency, with Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph calling it a "crisis budgeting" situation driven by reserve exhaustion and a structural revenue loss tied to changes in the telecommunications tax.

PGCPS said the $150 million in internal reductions were targeted at central-office efficiencies and trimming spending on under-enrolled or duplicative programs so instructional resources and classroom services could be preserved. Even so, the district is requesting $50 million from the county: $30 million is earmarked for special education and $20 million for operational priorities, including safety, security, and accelerants for math and literacy.

The fiscal squeeze has immediate implications for families, educators, and school staff across Prince George’s County. Special education funding is central to school equity and to services for students with disabilities whose health, development, and learning depend on consistent supports. Investments in safety and security intersect with public health concerns, from mental health staffing to physical building conditions. Math and literacy accelerants target core academic recovery efforts that community leaders have said are vital after pandemic-era learning losses.

PGCPS’s message comes at a moment when residents can engage directly. The district listed several upcoming opportunities: State of the Schools on Jan. 20, the FY27 Proposed Budget presentation on Jan. 22, and follow-up budget hearings where parents, staff, and community groups can testify and ask officials how cuts and requests will affect specific schools and programs.

For community advocates and families, the stakes include both immediate services and long-term equity outcomes. Central-office efficiencies may reduce administrative spending, but reducing duplicative programs can also shift where supports are available, risking gaps in neighborhoods that already face higher barriers to services. Restoring or stabilizing special education funding is important to avoid disruptions in individualized education plans, related therapies, and classroom aides that support students’ health and learning.

What happens next will depend on county deliberations and public input at the hearings. Residents who want to influence budget choices should watch the upcoming presentations and testify during hearings so county leaders understand how funding decisions will affect classrooms, safety, and the most vulnerable students across Prince George’s County.