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Gwinnett County Public Schools

FY2O24 BUDGET: Student-Centered, Equity-Focused, and Future-Driven

Focusing on Access and Opportunity for All Students, Early Literacy, School-BasedGCPS logo Resources, and Compensation

Each year, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) develops and adopts a budget for the next fiscal year beginning on July 1. The proposed FY2024 Budget supports GCPS’ strategic direction to transform public education so that it is truly student-centered, equity- focused, and future-driven. The alignment of budgetary investments with our strategic plan—Our Blueprint for the Future—ensures that each and every student is ready for success after graduation.

The FY2024 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget:

The Recommended Budget calls for $3.0 billion in the six funds that comprise the Total Budget. The proposed General Fund, which represents 77% of the Total Budget and funds the primary day-to-day operations of the school district, accounts for $2.3 billion of the total. This represents a 3.1% increase in the General Fund that can be attributed to improvements in the areas of expanded access and opportunity for students, early literacy, safety and security, school-based resources, and compensation.

FY2024 Improvements:

In the area of improvements, the proposed FY2024 budget includes investments to expand access and opportunity for all students, accelerate early literacy, prioritize school-based resources, and increase compensation. These improvements include:

Compensation:

  • A salary step increase for all eligible employees;
  • A $3,000 increase for all employees paid on the teacher salary schedule;
  • A minimum 4.0% cost-of-living increase for all employees not paid on the teacher schedule, with larger percentage increases in lower-compensated positions to achieve a minimum starting salary $15 per hour; and
  • Funding the rate increase for the employer-paid portion of the state health benefits plan for all general fund employees, estimated at $102.1 million.

Access and Opportunity for All Students:

  • Funding to support GHSA-approved athletic programs and extracurricular activities in the middle and high schools;
  • Increased funding for expansion of extracurricular program support;
  • Funding for program initiatives and personnel centered around whole learner support;
  • Increased funding for support of Health and PE, Fine Arts, and College and Career Programs;
  • Funding for programs that support GCPS educators seeking advancement of university degree opportunities; and

Funding for summer enrichment programs to address learning loss.

Early Literacy:

  • Funding of general education Pre-K at eight schools, with 16 classrooms supporting 256 students;
  • Funding for adoption of science of reading at 20–25 elementary schools; and
  • Professional development for all K-5 teachers to build understanding of science of reading and structured literacy components.

School-Based Resources:

  • The addition of 194 instructional and support positions required to accommodate the projected growth of 2,064 students and our continued work to lower class sizes;
  • An additional 63 special education teachers, an additional 22 special education Pre-K teachers, and 38 Pre-K paraprofessionals;
  • Funding for additional nurses;
  • Funding for teachers to purchase classroom supplies; and
  • Addition of one new middle school in the Archer cluster and the build-out of the GIVE Center West.

Safety and Security:

  • Funding for staff, and systems such as safety alert systems, security vestibules and fencing;
  • Funding for safety equipment for all custodial staff, and enhanced maintenance and operational support; and
  • Funding for services that support enterprise disaster recovery and audio-visual systems.

Revenue Sources for FY2024:

GCPS will receive a net increase of $175.5 million in state funding over the previous year due to the following:

  • $32.7 million for a $2,000 salary increase allotted through the State Teacher Salary Schedule;
  • $17.3 million for projected student growth;
  • $4.5 million for the state-funded portion of teacher salary step increases (compensation for training and experience) and the additional certificated employees who will be enrolled in state health insurance plans;
  • $88.2 million in additional state funding to fund the state share of employer increases on certified educators who participate in SHBP.
  • GCPS will receive $88.7 million in Equalization Grant funding, an increase of $54.1 million from the previous year; and
  • Offsetting state funding will be the school district’s “Local Five-Mill Share,” a required cost of participating in the state’s Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula. For FY2024, GCPS’ five-mill share will be $224.3 million, compared to $203 million this year. That is an increase of $21.3 million.

In terms of local funding, the property tax digest is expected to grow by 6.0%, resulting in an increase of $53.6 million in local property tax revenue. The proposed budget does not recommend an increase in the property tax millage rate.

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