‘Please, please, please give the money’: Richmond school advocates push for more funding for 2026-27
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The fight over Richmond’s budget continues as Richmond Public Schools (RPS) advocates push for more funding ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
Parents, employees and community members packed City Hall on Monday, March 23, asking leaders to increase funding for RPS.
Right now, Mayor Danny Avula has proposed a roughly $8 million increase for the division -- a plan advocates said still falls short of what schools need.
"Please, please, please give the money," one speaker told city leaders. "Give what is needed."
Advocates said they have been pushing for months to raise the proposed funding level, warning that without the additional support, jobs and key programs could be at risk.
"We care deeply about our students, families and teachers," another speaker said.
The current proposal includes $257 million for RPS -- an amount that Avula has called the largest investment in the division’s history. It's an $8.2 million increase over RPS' 2025-26 budget.
"After our months-long struggle, the mayor has proposed a budget that would not fully fund our schools," one person said during public comment.
School leaders have asked the city for a $12 million increase over 2025-26 in order to fund RPS' budget as proposed -- leaving Avula's current offer nearly $4 million short of that request.
"Approve the fully proposed RPS budget," another speaker said.
Advocates say if the gap is not closed, things like the Richmond Virtual Academy -- a public K-12 online school created in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic -- could be impacted.
"My son is nonverbal, has mobility challenges and relies on support for his daily living needs," one parent said. "The Richmond Virtual Academy has allowed [him] to thrive academically."
Others pushed back on the idea that the program is temporary.
"RVA is not a COVID fix -- RVA is RPS," another speaker said. "RVA is not a program -- RVA is a fully credited school."
Additionally, without full funding, advocates said more than 40 jobs could also be in jeopardy, along with some insurance coverage for employees.
"The budget you received … was the result of school staff, students and families fighting to keep jobs, keep our virtual school, keep mental health services and keep our insurance fully covered," one speaker said.
Advocates are also calling for an audit as they continue to push for more funding.
The city budget is expected to be finalized in May.
