State Superintendent Eric Mackey warned that job losses might occur due to the depletion of federal funding that supported education efforts during the pandemic.
Mackey’s comments followed the State Board of Education’s approval of a $6.4 billion Education Trust Fund budget request for fiscal year 2026.
This budget includes $52 million for the “Struggling Readers Beyond Grade 3 initiative, primarily aimed at retaining reading interventionists.
Many of these positions were previously funded through federal relief programs, such as the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act ARPA. Alabama received $3.28 billion in federal ESSER funds, but most of this has already been spent.
As a result, school districts will need state funds to maintain critical roles, like interventionists who support students with reading difficulties.
Mackey expressed concerns about the long-term sustainability of these positions, with some districts already eliminating interventionist jobs. He also highlighted the importance of programs like the Numeracy Act, which may help address future staffing needs in areas such as math education.
However, without further state support, the loss of federal funds will likely lead to fewer education jobs in the system over the coming years.
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