Atlanta Public Schools Adopts 2017-2018 Budget

ATLANTA, GA - Atlanta Public Schools has a brand-new, shiny $777 million budget, thanks to the city's Board of Education. The board unanimously adopted the general fund budget Monday during its monthly legislative meeting.

The budget includes many items that APS has determined as fundamental to its success, such as the district's turnaround strategy to improve its lowest-performing schools. The strategy received a lion's share of funds -- nearly -- $36 million -- to continue APS' plan of identifying and helping struggling schools. Schools will also benefit from a flexible spending account that can be used any way principals deem beneficial to their schools. To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Atlanta Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

The 2017-2018 school year begins Tuesday, August 1. Here are some highlights from the new budget:

● $35.8 million for the Turnaround Strategy to improve lowest-performing schools, including . supplemental support and partnerships with educational organizations that can help.

● $10.8 million for school-based flexible spending through a pilot program called Fund 150 that allows them to combine federal Title I dollars with their budget allotment.

● $10.5 million (a $3.5 million more than the previous year) for signature programming such as STEM, International Baccalaureate and College & Career Prep.

● $6.2 million for whole-child development programs and initiatives including sports and arts.

● $6 million for a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for APS workers.

● $580,000 for the district’s new Family Engagement Strategy.

APS said that the budget, which includes about $8 million in administrative cuts, was adopted without a millage increase.

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