The Boston School Committee approved a $1.58 billion budget for the next school year Wednesday night, including additional funds to create more inclusive classroom settings for special education services and English language learners.
But administrators worry $100 million in federal funds could be at risk as the Trump administration tries to tighten its control over K-12 public schools with threats to withhold money.
The budget approved in a 6-1 vote is a 3.5 percent hike over this year’s spending, which includes $10 million more for inclusive practices for special education students, and an extra $4 million for English language learners. The funding for inclusive practices comes as the district continues to meet commitments of a state improvement plan for Boston’s public schools.
“This budget honors our commitment to putting students first, while maximizing and strengthening programs and initiatives that are showing the greatest success and growth,” Superintendent Mary Skipper told committee members Wednesday.
The budget will start on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
Administrators have said the budget increased by $53.4 million, including $31.4 million in general costs for running the school district. The district’s fiscal 2026 budget is also the first in several years to not include federal pandemic aid.
The expenses include an extra $10 million on health insurance and $8 million more for student out-of-district placement and transportation. Administrators said they will also boost spending on student services by $43 million next year — roughly half of those funds will be drawn from the budget increase itself, while the remainder comes from cost-cutting measures like building closures.
But overshadowing the schools’ budget is President Trump, who has issued a slew of executive orders that punish public K-12 schools if they offer curriculum or services he opposes. His orders have been aimed at rooting out diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; support for LGBTQ community, particularly transgender students; and schools with curriculum that references racism and discrimination.
He’s also started to dismantle the US Education Department, which oversees federal grant funding programs, including initiatives that serve low-income students, and students with disabilities. (Trump has said the Education Department grant programs will continue to be administered by other agencies.)
Michael O’Neill, the committee’s vice chairperson, noted many other districts are cutting their budgets and laying off staff. While Boston is not seeking those reductions, administrators have said the district receives about $100 million of federal funds, which represent about 6 percent of the budget. Losing those funds would have a significant impact, officials have warned.
O’Neill also noted that future schools’ budgets could also be impacted by falling commercial real estate tax revenue, as the market for office space in Boston remains soft years after the pandemic.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in this budget,” O’Neill said.
Jeri Robinson, the board’s chairperson, suggested that the district establish a working group or committee to help prepare BPS in case it needs to make changes to its budgets.
“How do we go about making the harder choices?” Robinson said. “And we know, given where we’re heading in this country, we’re going to get to the point that we’re going to have to make hard choices.”
Another budget uncertainty is a proposed three-year deal with the Boston Teachers Union. The tentative deal was announced last week, but administrators have not publicly disclosed its cost or whether any new positions will be created.
The union has said the agreement would include higher pay for staff like teachers and paraprofessionals and require staffing levels for inclusive classrooms with high concentrations of students with disabilities.
The School Committee discussed the contract during a closed-door session before the budget vote and is expected to decide on the proposal at a future meeting. The union is expected to hold a ratification vote April 9.
Administrators have said the budget approved Thursday includes $10 million more to expand inclusive practices in grades 1, 2, 8, and 10. There is also $4 million more for English language learners.
That plan, announced in 2023, is intended to eliminate barriers that have isolated English learners and special education students for years and is critical for breaking down systemic racial disparities in education. This was the first year for the plan, which has been rolled out in kindergarten and grades 7 and 9.
John Hilliard can be reached at john.hilliard@globe.com or on Signal at john_hilliard.70. Follow him on Bluesky at iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social.