2023 Budget Focused on Staff Compensation, Student Success, and Safety

By Communication and Community Relations
Employee News
May 31, 2022

On May 26, the Fairfax County School Board adopted the FY 2023 budget that strengthens student success and security, focuses on staff compensation, and represents hope and help for our FCPS community. 

The budget includes:

  • A full step for all eligible employees .
  • A 4% Market Scale Adjustment (MSA) for all employees.
  • An additional step added to the top of the scale for those employees who have maxed out of their scale to help improve recruitment and retention.

Fiscal Year 2023 Salary Scales are now available on the FCPS website. 

The 4% MSA will be effective July 1 for all employees. Step increments will become effective based on the employee’s anniversary date. Employees can find their anniversary date in UConnect. Go to the top left Bookmarks drop down menu and select Employee Self-Service - My Job - Next Anniversary Date. 

The budget also includes one additional workday for all less-than-12-month employees, except for transportation employees who will get two additional days. For reference, a summary of the FCPS 2022-23 Work Schedules adjustments is available online. 

The County transfer increase of $102.6 million, for a total of $2,275.3 billion, will support investments that show our employees they are the critical piece in helping our students thrive and help FCPS attract and retain the best instructional and support staff. 

Other budget initiatives include:

  • Professional development and planning time for elementary school teachers to complete activities such as: professional development; collaborating and communicating with resource staff, administration, students, and families; reviewing formative and summative assessments to plan for targeted instruction; and preparing and organizing materials for differentiated instruction.
  • Adjustments in pay for family liaisons and transportation workers to ensure their salaries are more competitive. 
  • Special education mentor coaches to work across the division to provide support to novice teachers. 
  • Additional translator staffing assigned to meet needs identified by the Home Language Survey form. 
  • A small adjustment in the budget will support a County initiative to provide affordable housing so that teachers and staff can live where they work. 

In line with its key priorities, the budget includes funding for multiple initiatives that support students in critical areas of need, including a lead special education teacher at all elementary schools, an increase in school-based family liaisons, investments in staff recruitment and retention, and additional supports for student mental health, wellness, and safety. The budget maintains school counselor positions that would have otherwise been reduced due to a decrease in student enrollment. 

The School Board also directed the Superintendent to conduct a holistic review of safety and security protocols and procedures in all FCPS buildings, as well as prioritizing completion of the security vestibule program.

See the full budget on our website.

Read the news release.