President’s Note
This week, I joined many friends, education and business leaders from across North Carolina at the Public School Forum’s annual Eggs & Issues breakfast—an event that continues to ground our state’s education conversation in facts.
The message was clear and consistent with what we’ve been highlighting in In Context:
- North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally in per-pupil funding and is last in funding effort
- Teacher pay remains uncompetitive with neighboring states
- And once again, our state is operating without a comprehensive budget, leaving school districts in limbo
These are not new issues. But they are becoming more urgent.
The Wake County Public School System’s newly proposed 2026–27 budget presented this week reflects this reality. District leaders are doing what they must—building a responsible plan amid uncertainty, making assumptions about funding that has not yet been decided, and identifying reductions where necessary.
But let’s be clear: this uncertainty is a policy choice.
North Carolina is currently the only state in the nation without a finalized budget. That lack of action is now cascading down to every classroom, every teacher, and every student.
What we are seeing in Wake County is not a local problem. It is the local impact of state-level inaction.
If we want strong public schools—and a strong economy that depends on them—then passing a state budget must be an immediate priority. And not just any budget, but one that:
- Meaningfully improves teacher pay and benefits
- Invests in public schools at a level that reflects our growth and expectations
- Provides stability and predictability for school districts trying to plan responsibly
Until that happens, districts like WCPSS will continue to make difficult choices in an environment they do not control.
The question is not whether needs exist. It is whether leadership—at every level—will meet this moment.
— Keith Poston
President, WakeEd Partnership
Uncertainty Defines WCPSS Budget Proposal for 2026–27
Wake County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor presented his proposed budget for the 2026–27 school year this week before the Wake County Board of Education at a time when one word defines the entire financial outlook: uncertainty.
North Carolina remains the only state in the country without a finalized budget for the current fiscal cycle. That leaves school districts like WCPSS building next year’s plan without clear direction on teacher pay, funding levels, or key policy decisions that directly affect classrooms.
What’s in the Proposal
The superintendent’s proposed operating budget totals approximately $2.29 billion, with funding coming from three primary sources:
- State funding (55%)
- Local funding (38%)
- Federal funding (7%)
The proposal includes several key components:
- A request for a $25.3 million increase in county funding (bringing the total to $768.2 million)
- An assumed $44.3 million increase in state funding, largely tied to anticipated salary and benefit changes
- A projected $27.5 million decrease in federal funding, driven primarily by lower carryover funds
On the spending side, the budget prioritizes:
- Employee compensation increases (~$14 million), including assumed state raises and local supplements
- Maintaining key positions, including special education and magnet programs
- Opening a new elementary school and supporting enrollment changes
- Covering rising costs for insurance, facilities, and mandated expenses
At the same time, the proposal includes targeted reductions and realignments, such as:
- Reductions in elementary literacy coaching support
- Transportation and instructional services adjustments
- Shifts in how some services are delivered to reduce costs
The Bigger Story: A Structural Squeeze
While the numbers matter, the larger story is what’s driving them.
WCPSS—like districts across North Carolina—is navigating a convergence of pressures:
- No finalized state budget, leaving major assumptions unresolved
- Rising costs tied to inflation, benefits, and operations
- Declining federal support, especially post-pandemic
- Limited reserves, after years of using fund balance to stabilize budgets
- Slowing student growth, which impacts funding formulas
Even as Wake County continues to grow, district leaders note that growth does not pay for itself, particularly in a system already operating with some of the lowest per-pupil funding levels nationally.
Special Education and Critical Services in Focus
One of the most closely watched elements of this year’s proposal is how the district handles special education funding and staffing.
The superintendent’s initial proposal includes changes tied to funding constraints, but district staff have already indicated they will bring alternative options forward to the Board of Education in upcoming work sessions.
This reflects both the financial reality and the broader context: increasing student needs, heightened public scrutiny, and the importance of rebuilding trust with families.
What Happens Next
The budget process now shifts to the Wake County Board of Education, with several key steps ahead:
- Community input sessions in April
- Budget work sessions and revisions
- Final Board adoption
- Submission to Wake County Commissioners by mid-May
At each stage, assumptions—particularly around state funding—may need to be revisited.
Why This Matters
This year’s budget is not just about balancing numbers—it is about how a growing community sustains strong public schools in an increasingly uncertain funding environment.
With the courts stepping back on school funding enforcement and the state budget still unresolved, responsibility continues to shift closer to home—placing greater pressure on local leaders, county commissioners, and community partners.
For Wake County, the question is not whether needs exist. It is whether funding decisions—at every level—will match those needs.