To clear confusion and provide families and community members with the key facts on Worcester County Public Schools' budget request, we have pulled all of the information you need to know in this quick guide.
Budget Timeline
Board of Education: Public Input & Adoption
Following gathering input from the public, school and school system leaders, the Board of Education held a budget work session on January 27, which informed the Board's adoption of the FY27 budget request at its regular meeting on February 17. (A simple breakdown of the Board's request can be viewed here.)
Board of Education Leaders Present the Budget to the County Commissioners - April 14, 2026 (Timestamp: 06:53)
County Commissioners Debate the Board of Education Budget Request - May 12, 2026 (Timestamp: 01:12:01)
County Commissioners Continue Debate on Board of Education Budget Request - May 19, 2026 (Timestamp: 00:32:15)
Superintendent Dr. Annette Wallace addresses the Commissioners' budget debate during her report at the May 21, 2026, Board of Education meeting (Timestamp: 2:13:57)
County Commissioners' Majority (Commissioners Abbott, Bertino, Bunting, and Elder) approve a reduction of nearly $2.8 million from the Board of Education's budget request despite only having an approximate budget shortfall of $250,000, opting instead to put over $2.9 million into a reserve fund (Timestamps: 00:12:00, 00:53:49)
Board of Education holds a special meeting to adopt a revised budget that addresses the shortfall created by the Commissioners' decision to reduce the Board's request (Timestamp: 31:12)
On June 15, WCPS notified families impacted by the budget reductions - specifically those enrolled in Dual Enrollment courses or the upcoming Summer Academy sessions - of the upcoming changes to these programs. Letters can be viewed here: Dual Enrollment Letter, Summer Academy Letter
On June 16, following receipt of questions from parents who received correspondence from certain Commissioners, Superintendent Dr. Annette Wallace addresses the crowd at the Board of Education meeting (Timestamp: 2:06:39)
Also on June 16, the County Commissioners announced that for the previous fiscal year (FY25), in which the Board's budget request was also reduced, they end the fiscal year with a $29 million surplus. (Timestamp: 01:59:07)
Quick Links
Documents
FY2027 Proposed Budget - Full Document (Revised as of June 3, 2026)
Tip: View page 6 to see the reductions made to address the funding shortfall
Tip: View page 7 for the revised quick guide (original is linked below)
Presentation Slidedecks