Public schools will be forced to cut budgets — even if state funding remains flat

Some public school leaders are preparing to cut their budgets if lawmakers keep state funding flat next school year — even though K-12 is exempt from nearly statewide cuts. Budget-setting lawmakers this month advanced a $2.77 billion public school funding bill for 2026-27. It’s roughly the same amount the state appropriated this school year. And so far, brick-and-mortar public schools have been shielded from proposed spending cuts that apply to most state-funded agencies and institutions.