On February 5, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper announced BPS’s fiscal budget for 2026, with an increase of 52.1 million dollars from the 2025 fiscal year for a total of 1.58 billion dollars. This proposed budget, however, does not include cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, which would affect schools across the nation.
The federal budget is the government’s annual plan for the U.S. federal government’s spending and revenue. It is used to shape the direction of the country’s financial priorities across multiple sectors, including public education. To create the budget, the president submits a proposal to Congress, which then reviews and revises it before passing the legislation.
The budget is divided into mandatory and discretionary spending. Mandatory spending represents the largest portion of the budget, as the government is required by law to fund specific programs like Social Security and the Affordable Care Act. Discretionary spending is the portion of the federal budget that Congress is able to control, which includes funding for education, defense and infrastructure.
Since President Donald Trump took office, there have been proposed cuts made to the Department of Education. These cuts may reduce funding for Title I, the largest federal aid program for public schools that aims to help low-income students, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which guarantees children with disabilities a free and appropriate public education while receiving special education and related services.
Assistant Head of School Steven Chen addresses the concerns that some have regarding the proposed cuts: “The biggest source of money for school is through local communities. For example, for schools in BPS, […] only a small percentage of it [is] from the federal government. There is also funding from the state to support students like those with disabilities [to] provide the funding necessary.”
Despite school budgets coming from local communities, cuts to federal programs may make it difficult for school districts that don’t receive as much funding from their city or state to maintain the level of support that they have for students from underrepresented communities and students with disabilities. Many schools may also struggle to provide resources necessary for teachers and other programs for students as a consequence.
President Trump has already begun to make changes that directly impact schools, specifically his cuts to university research funding. Without this federal funding, universities across the nation have been forced to make decreases in their budget and lower the number of students that can be accepted into graduate school.
In addition to this, President Trump recently announced his intention to shut down the Department of Education. Under Trump’s proposal, the task of providing funding to schools throughout the U.S. would be delegated to various other departments. Although it is unclear whether these motions will pass, the potential effects would be disruptive to schools everywhere, especially to programs supporting historically underrepresented communities.
Students and teachers alike have rallied across Boston and other cities throughout the nation in strikes and unions to protest against these potential changes to government funding. Mayor Michelle Wu has also taken action in filing an amicus curiae brief against federal research funding cuts.
Rayne Valentine (V) states, “I commend those immediately affected by this discussion […] for raising their voices and making sure their side of the debate is heard, regardless of the outcome. I really, really hope that the funds don’t get cut, […] because I do fear what it would mean for the education of other Boston students, as well as students around the country.”
Boston Latin School’s funding is controlled by BPS and the city and state-level regulations. The proposed federal budget cuts have not currently passed through Congress but may take away as much as 70 million dollars from BPS.
Head of School Jason Gallagher concludes, “Anytime you have a cut to a budget of that size, it hurts. […] It’s just not knowing, [which is] scarier than the actual things that are going on. […] It’s really important for us here at the school, to give the message […] [that] when you come in, you know what to expect. Your teachers are going to be here. We’re going to be here. […] Hopefully the students can feel that.”