Greetings Jackson-Reed,

Last week our initial budget allocation for fiscal year 2026 (FY26) was released.  As we know, the budget is driven by enrollment, and the enrollment at Jackson-Reed is projected to be 1,732 students next school year, less than our current enrollment.  As a result, our initial allocation for FY26 is $29.9 million which is slightly less than the $30.1 million we were approved for in FY25.  Due to factors such as inflationary costs, we will have reduced buying power and will experience a $1.9 million gap to balance the budget.

Over the last few months, we have been engaging members of our school community regarding the FY26 budget through a budget survey, hosting a community conversation, holding an office hour session, and LSAT meetings.  I appreciate the information gathered and shared during this time from our various stakeholders.  The feedback has helped identify priorities and areas for deeper consideration as we build a balanced budget aligned with the DCPS Strategic Plan and provide our students with the educational opportunities and experiences needed to lead a successful life after high school.  I’ll be continuing my budget engagement with an additional LSAT meeting this week before submitting our proposed FY26 budget, which is due on Wednesday, March 5th.   For more information on the budget and our initial allocation, please visit dcpsbudget.com.

Lastly, this week is National Social Worker Appreciation Week, so please join me in thanking our dedicated team of social workers for their work with our students, families, and staff members.  We are pleased to have a dedicated team of social workers who provide social-emotional support to our students and help members of our school community thrive!

Tigers R.O.A.R.,
Sah Brown
Principal