ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools officials say declining enrollment and budget shortfalls have made it necessary to cut more than $8 million in mental health services for the 2026-27 school year.
District 1 School Board member Angie Gallo said that with fewer students in public school classrooms, OCPS has been forced to make some difficult decisions.
What You Need To Know
Orange County Public Schools is cutting $8.2 million in mental health services for the 2026-27 school year
District officials say OCPS is having to make financial adjustments because of declining student enrollment and reduced revenue
According to information from OCPS, 12 itinerant social workers, 15 licensed mental health counselors and six psychologists will also lose their jobs because of the funding cut
According to a letter sent from the district to the Orange County Classroom Teachers’ Association, students will receive “direct counseling services from certified schools’ counselors and social workers,” which it believes will improve access to care and improve student to certified staff ratios
The situation was first signaled by OCPS in a letter sent to the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association on March 26.
Because of declining enrollment, the letter said the district isn’t getting enough money from the state to maintain these types of essential services.
“We spend $8.2 million over what we’re allotted on mental health because we recognize the needs, and we want kids to get the supports they need,” Gallo said. “But we can no longer supplement the money that Tallahassee doesn’t give us.”
As a result, the district is eliminating the SAFE coordinator position and will reduce a number of positions on the district’s student services team starting with the next academic year in August.
SAFE coordinators are specialized staff at middle and high schools whose job is to provide mental health services and support to students who are struggling.
Some of these services include bullying and suicide prevention, alcohol and drugs prevention, and even homeless advocacy.
“There will be some gaps. The SAFE coordinators did a lot. They helped find shelter sometimes, find food, link them up with resources outside of the school where needed,” Gallo said. “We will have to figure that piece out and rely on some of the other agencies or stakeholders that can come in and help us fill the gaps.”
She said that because state funding hasn’t kept up with the needs of students or of the district, OCPS has had to prioritize where its money goes.
“The board has prioritized teacher raises, so we need to find as much money as we can,” she said.
According to the district’s letter, the SAFE coordinator position “represents an $8.2 million investment.”
But it justified its elimination because there is “significant overlap between the SAFE coordinator’s responsibilities and those of our school-based social workers.”
Moving forward, district officials said students will receive “direct counseling services from certified schools’ counselors and social workers,” which they said they believe will improve access to care and improve student to certified staff ratios.
Based on what was shared in the letter, OCPS notified schools that they will be required to purchase counselor positions based on their allocations.
The district also announced it would make staffing changes, including reductions in many of the district-based student services positions.
“We will reduce the following positions: 12 itinerant social workers, 15 licensed mental health counselors, and six psychologists,” the letter from the district said. “Many of these positions currently are vacant, reducing the impact to current employees in these positions. As a result, itinerant social workers will support two to three schools each. The majority of school psychologists will serve two schools, and in schools where data indicate a lower need for exceptional student evaluations, psychologists may serve three schools.
“Mental health counselors will support seven to eight schools on a more consultative basis. Tier Ill support will continue to be provided to our students who need intensive services. We will also partner with community providers to offer mental health services, pending parent approval.”
Gallo called the decision “really sad,” but said school board members are committed to making sure every student’s needs are met.