In most U.S. public school districts, staffing continues to increase while student enrollment remains stagnant or declines, recent data indicate.
The situation is approaching a critical point as school boards begin the budget planning process for the 2026–2027 academic year. Federal post-COVID-19-pandemic relief grants are now exhausted, while enrollment-based state aid has decreased, forcing boards of education across the nation to grapple with the choice between layoffs and local property tax hikes, policy experts warn.
