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Teacher cuts loom in Orange County as enrollment drops, budget takes $28M hit

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Updated  May 1, 2025 12:07pm EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando
Hundreds of Orange County teachers let go, plummeting enrollment

Hundreds of Orange County teachers let go, plummeting enrollment

Over 800 teachers in Orange County have been let go due to plummeting enrollment according to the district. FOX 35's Randi Hildreth has the latest info from Orange County.

The Brief

    • Orange County Public Schools may cut hundreds of teaching positions due to a projected loss of 3,100 students and a $28 million funding shortfall.
    • The district is urging affected teachers to apply for other openings, but placement isn’t guaranteed.
    • Leaders blame Florida’s expanding voucher program for worsening the crisis and say reforms are urgently needed.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Orange County Public Schools – the fourth-largest school district in Florida – has confirmed that it will cut teachers and teacher positions due to an anticipated drop in enrollment and funding. 

It's an issue that several school districts are facing. FOX 35 has been reporting on the issue and concerns for several weeks.

‘Decline in enrollment means a decline in funding’

"Decline in enrollment means a decline in funding from the state, which means we don't have the budget for as many teachers," Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos told FOX 35 Orlando.

By the numbers:

  • 3,100 - The expected decline in students next year at Orange County Public Schools
  • 450 to 500 - The number of teacher vacancies throughout the district
  • 811 - The number of teachers who received non-reappointment letters for 2025-2026 school year (compared to 960 non-reappointments in 2024-2025 school year). Half of those were listed as temporary teachers/assignments.
  • Unknown - Number of teachers/teaching positions cut specifically due to a drop in enrollment and budget cuts. FOX 35 has asked OCPS for a specific number. The teacher's union estimates the number to be more than 100.
  • $28 million - Estimated dip in state funding for the district due to an anticipated drop in enrollment. 

The backstory:

Enrollment has been steadily declining in Orange County, in part due to Florida’s expanded school voucher program. The program allows families to use public funds to send their children to private or charter schools, drawing students — and the associated per-student funding — away from public campuses.

Union leaders and some school board members argue the voucher system is contributing to the budget crisis by pulling students from traditional schools without adjusting funding formulas to account for the shift.

"Each year, school budgets are determined based on projected student enrollment. Staffing decisions at the school level are made in alignment with these projections. When a school experiences a decline in enrollment, it may result in personnel being placed on a non-reappointment list. These employees are then eligible to interview for positions at other schools," the district said in a statement.

The district is encouraging teachers who received non-reappointment letters to apply for open positions at other schools within the district. OCPS is also hosting virtual transfer fairs and partnered with a recruiting firm to help attract students back to the district.

Orange County Public Schools preparing for budget cuts

Orange County Public Schools preparing for budget cuts

Orange County Public Schools is preparing for the potential of state budget cuts next school year, potentially impacted by reduced enrollment. Here's how that could impact the district and where those budget cuts would have to be made.

Big picture view:

This staffing crisis highlights a broader struggle facing public education systems across Florida and the country: how to maintain stable operations and staffing in the face of shrinking enrollment and shifting education policy. With more families exploring alternative education options, public schools are forced to navigate funding cuts that could jeopardize staffing and programming.

The issue also raises questions about the sustainability of public education funding models that are tightly tethered to fluctuating student headcounts.

The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association estimates hundreds of teachers are now looking for a new job. District leaders say they had to cut positions because they're expecting fewer students next year.

What they're saying:

"Decline in enrollment means a decline in funding from the state, which means we don't have the budget for as many teachers." - Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos.

"That is a budget hit. We get paid per student and 3,100 students is a considerable amount of money to deal with within the budget cycle," Scott Howat, chief of communications for Orange County Public Schools.

"We need to take care of our people first and ensure they have placement in the district," said Clinton McCraken, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.

"We can't leave this voucher program unchecked. There needs to be limits." - Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos.

What's next:

FOX 35 will continue to monitor how many fewer students enroll at OCPS during the 2025-2026 school year – and how that impacts the district, including funding decisions, position cuts, and potential program cuts.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Orange County Public Schools Communications Team, the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, and Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos.

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