Alexandria School District's Budget Proposed For 2021

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. proposed a $299.1 million operating budget for the 2020-2021 school year. The proposal reflects a 4.4 percent increase from the current year's budget.

"This budget is aligned with the priorities set by the School Board for the 2020-21 school year," said Hutchings in a statement. "It continues to direct funding to the classroom and provides the support our students need to succeed."

On the personnel side, a $5.3 million increase for employee salaries is proposed. The proposed budget would give eligible staff a salary step increase. Those not eligible for a salary step increase would receive a one-time payment of 2 percent of the base salary. Select staff, including bus drivers, bus monitors, bus mechanics, paraprofessionals, elementary and middle school principals and department chiefs would get market rate adjustments. The salary increases are intended to help offset health care premium increases, and the school district will pay for the cost of benefit program increases to the Virginia Retirement System and ACPS’ Supplemental Retirement Fund.

The budget would also add several positions to support students with disabilities, as well as three English learner teaching positions, a full-time bilingual Amharic specialist and full-time Amharic translator.

Other priorities identified in the superintendent's budget are allocations aimed at improving the graduation rate—particularly for Hispanic male students—and preventing dropouts, a rate that remains around 7.7 percent. The on-time graduation rate for the 2018-2019 school year was 83.5 percent, compared to the state's 91.5 percent.

The budget would also provide increased support for literacy in kindergarten through second grade; expand funding for experiential learning opportunities in humanities for second grade students with Historic Alexandria, provide funding for additional staffing for the Young Scholars Program at all elementary schools and give support to the early learning program Smart Beginnings. Improving literacy was identified as a priority after the school district's performance on SOL tests remained below the state average.

A school board hearing on the proposed budget will happen on Jan. 23 with adoption of the budget following on Feb. 20. The City Manager is expected to present the city's proposed budget on Feb. 18 with a public hearing and work sessions following in March and April.

Find more information on the budget and important dates on the school district's website.