Austin Packer Bulletin
December 5, 2025
Schools Need Stability, Not Cuts: Congress Must Protect FY26 Education Funding
Recent reporting about the federal budget process underscores something those of us in public education know all too well: national debates in Washington have real consequences in our classrooms. As superintendent of Austin Public Schools serving over 5200 students, I see the direct impact federal funding has on our students every day and how harmful proposed cuts would be to our community.
This year, the stakes are unusually high. Competing FY26 funding proposals in Congress would take our schools in dramatically different directions. The House Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that slashes Title I by nearly $4 billion and eliminates foundational formula programs, including Title II and Title III. These are not abstract numbers.
In APS, Title I supports reading interventionists and paraprofessionals to provide supplemental academic support. Title II enables us to provide high-quality professional development focused on literacy, math, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), data-based decision making, and instructional strategies for all teachers. Title III ensures high-quality services for our multilingual learners, which is 26.4% of the students in APS, and bring incredible strengths and deserve the tools to succeed.
A cut of this magnitude would require school leaders to make painful decisions. It could mean reduced support for students, a lack of professional development, and lower teacher retention. At a time when students are working hard to recover academically and emotionally from the disruptions of recent years, these reductions could undermine the progress they have made.
Contrast this with the bipartisan proposal from the Senate, which takes a far more responsible approach: maintaining funding for core K–12 programs and directing the Administration to ensure these funds reach districts by July 1. This detail may seem technical, but its impact is enormous.
Last summer, districts across the country, including ours, built budgets based on federal funds that have historically arrived every July. When that schedule was disrupted, school systems were left wondering whether the dollars Congress had appropriated would ever materialize. No business, nonprofit, or local government could responsibly operate amid that level of instability, and neither can public schools. The Senate bill restores predictability, ensuring the decades-long Congressional schedule of funds being delivered on time by July 1.
Our community knows that student success is not accidental. It requires teacher and staff investment, strong parental/caregiver engagement, and financial resources for all our students.
Federal dollars make up a relatively small share of our budget, but they are often the most targeted, supporting students with the greatest needs. That’s why maintaining Title I, II, and III funding is not merely beneficial; it is essential.
This is not a partisan issue. It’s about ensuring that every child in every community has access to an excellent education and the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
I urge our elected officials in Congress to support the Senate’s bipartisan FY26 proposal and reject cuts that would harm students. Our educators are working harder than ever. Our families/caregivers depend on the services that our schools provide. And our children deserve a stable, well-funded education system so they can develop real skills for real life, enabling them to reach their full potential.
The decisions made in Washington will shape what is possible in classrooms here at home next fall. I hope our representatives choose to invest in the future of our community, and most importantly, in the future of our children.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent
One of our key strategic priorities, the Packer Profile, is making significant strides this year as we help students build the skills, experiences, and mindsets they need for life after graduation. From classroom projects to community partnerships, we’re seeing more intentional work than ever to connect learning with the Packer Profile outcomes. Check out the latest newsletter here.
Recently, the Hormel Foundation board of directors approved $34 million in distributions to nonprofit agencies in the Austin/Mower community for 2026.
The Austin Public School District is very thankful for the Hormel Foundation's ongoing support. This year, the district received over $1.5 million in allocated funds for programs such as technology in the K-12 setting, REACH, gifted and talented programs, professional development, robotics, family literacy initiatives, and support for our music programs.
It's time for another #Packercast! In this episode, we sit down with Southgate Elementary School Paraeducator Chelsea Smith. Check it out!
A reminder that this day refers to a school day where teachers and students communicate online or set up prior learning expectations, rather than coming to school, and students continue their learning from home. Teachers can opt to do this off-campus or in their classrooms.
For more information, see the policy for complete details, and visit the Remote Learning Days site for review.
This year, our teachers and counselors at Austin High School and Ellis Middle School will be trying out a new tool called Talking Points. Talking Points will allow you to send and receive text messages directly with your child's teachers.
During the next week, you may begin receiving text messages from your child's teachers. Please save these phone numbers so that you can reach out to teachers. Talking Points will translate your messages for us if your language is available in the program.
If you have any questions about Talking Points, please get in touch with Kristi Beckman at 507-460-1107 or by email.
