Alabama education officials are asking for $6.43 billion for for fiscal year 2026, but say that amount still probably isn’t enough to fund all of the employees currently working in public schools.

While the requested amount would be an 8% increase, or $472 million, more than the current year, schools also are dealing with the loss of federal pandemic relief, which buoyed a lot of programs in the last 4 years. Most of the COVID relief aid is gone.

“There’s no question that over the next three years, we’ll lose a lot of positions because they can’t sustain them,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey told reporters on Thursday, noting that he has talked to several superintendents who plan to not replace roles when staffers step down. Some, he said, have already cut all interventionist jobs this year.

“We will hopefully get more money for middle grade reading so some of those folks, as time goes on, they’ll be able to move to other jobs,” Mackey added. “But there’s just no way for the state to really sustain all the federal money.”

The state Department of Education wants increased funding to support new literacy programs, school security improvements, and other efforts recently approved by lawmakers. But it is unlikely that the legislature will fund the full request.

Lawmakers currently are considering some other big-ticket asks, including long-awaited cost-of-living increases for retired educators and requests to support the Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan.

“A lot of that is driven by if there’s going to be a pay raise and if they’re going to fully fund PEEHIP,” Mackey said, referencing the rising cost of health insurance plans for public employees. “That’s the big bear in the room, the PEEHIP request.”

What’s in the proposal?

Of the department’s requested amount, $5.36 billion would go to local K-12 school districts, an increase of about $225 million. Other funds would support financial assistance programs and services administered by the state department.

The largest increases will support transportation and personnel changes.

Officials said it will cost about half a billion dollars to fully fund bus services and are asking for an increase of $133 million in transportation funds. They are seeking an additional $55 million to hire more assistant principals.

The proposal also included $95 million to support the Alabama Numeracy Act – an increase of $27 million – and about $113 million for the Alabama Reading Initiative, up $7.4 million from last year.

Other notable requests include:

• $52.9 million proposed for new security measures
• $52 million proposed for a new initiative to support struggling readers beyond third grade
• $20 million for a college and career readiness grant program
• Special education teacher stipends: $34 million proposed, an increase of $26 million
• Expansion of the Alabama Summer and Afterschool Program: $17.3 million proposed, an increase of $14.4 million
• Student assessments: $32.9 million proposed, an increase of $13.5 million
• Career tech programs: $48.7 million proposed, an increase of $10 million
• Special Education Certified Behavior Analyst Program: $13.5 million proposed, an increase of $5 million
• Gifted programs: $15.35 million proposed, an increase of $3 million