The Worcester Public Schools Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget Development Schedule is as follows:

October 1, 2024: Student Enrollment based on this date will be used as the basis of next year’s funding.

November 27, 2024: Initial budget planning estimates are determined using enrollment and cost center data.

December 14, 2024: The Facilities Department prepares the building assessment updates to the five-year building plan.

January 22, 2025: Governor’s Proposed State Budget is released to the public.

January 27, 2025: Individual school-based resource allocation meetings begin.  Individual Site Council meetings to review school resource allocation requests completed by this date. (School Committee vote 10/21/21.)

February 6, 2025: The Superintendent provides a Preliminary Budget presentation to the School Committee.

February 21, 2025: Capital equipment plans are developed.

February 25, 2025*: Administration Budget Presentation to Worcester Equity Roundtable.

February 26, 2025*: Administration Budget Presentation to Superintendent’s Educator Advisory Committee

March 10, 2025: District-level resource allocation meetings begin.

March 19, 2025*: Joint meeting of City Council Education Committee and School Committee Finance and Operations Committee

March 19, 2025*: Administration Budget Presentation to Citywide Parent Planning Advisory Committee.

March 20, 2025*: Administration Budget Presentation to Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee.

March 21, 2025*: Projects submitted to Massachusetts School Building Authority for Accelerated Repair Projects

March 26, 2025*: Administration Budget Presentation to Family and Community Engagement Roundtable.

April 16, 2025 (expected date): Massachusetts House Ways and Means Budget released to the public.

April 18, 2025: Worcester Public Schools submits budget information to the City of Worcester.

April 25, 2024*: Projects submitted to Massachusetts School Building Authority for Major Renovation or Repair Projects

May 9, 2025: Superintendent’s Annual Budget Recommendations released

May 14, 2025 (expected date): Senate Ways and Means Budget released to the public.

May 28, 2025*: School Committee Holds Public Budget Hearing.

June 3, 2025*: Budget Session with the Worcester City Council.

June 5, 2025: School Committee Budget Session. (4:00-6:00 pm, Worcester City Hall)

June 19, 2025: School Committee Budget Session. (4:00-6:00 pm, Worcester City Hall)

June 30, 2024*: Final State Budget adopted.

July 1, 2024: First day of fiscal year 2026.

July 19, 2024: Final adjustments to the FY25 fiscal year; FY26 budget loaded into the city financial system.

July 20, 2024: Adjustments to budget based on final state budget submitted to School Committee as necessary.

Reference: School Committee Policy DBC, Budget Deadlines and Schedules.