More than half of Alabama’s K-12 public school districts will see a drop in state-funded teacher units next year, according to documents Alabama Daily News received from the Alabama Department of Education.
The drops are directly related to declining enrollment.
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State funding for the 2025–26 school year is based on last year’s count of 720,175 students. While that count increased by about 1,500 students over the previous year — resulting in 153 more teacher units funded through the Foundation Program statewide — those gains were unevenly distributed.
Because state funding makes up the bulk of most school budgets, losing teacher units can have an outsized impact, especially in rural or high-poverty areas.
The districts facing the largest proportional losses are small city and rural systems, including many in Alabama’s Black Belt region:
- Selma City, down 10%, from 143 to 128 teacher units
- Sumter County, down 9%, from 54 to 50
- Linden City, down 9%, from 23 to 21
- Ozark City, down 7%, from 113 to 105
- Lowndes County, down 7%, from 67 to 62
Shrinking
This trend isn’t new.
Alabama’s Foundation Program, the primary vehicle for distributing state education dollars, bases funding on prior-year enrollment, which continues to shrink in many rural areas.
At the other end of the spectrum, districts that operate virtual schools or charter schools are seeing the biggest percentage increases in teacher units. Several traditional public school districts, particularly in parts of north and northeast Alabama, are also seeing increases tied to enrollment growth.
This map shows the percentage change in Foundation Program teacher units from the 2024–25 to the 2025–26 school year — with red indicating declines and blue indicating increases. This table following the map lists Alabama’s public charter schools, which are not shown on the map but saw some of the largest percentage gains.
Districts losing Foundation Program teacher units will receive additional funding under the new RAISE Act. This weighted funding must be used to support students with greater needs, but it can be used for teaching positions like interventionists or programs that help close learning gaps.
One unknown for the coming year is how Alabama’s new education savings accounts will affect public school enrollment — and funding. Though most of the more than 23,100 ESAs awarded as of May 20 are going to students already in private schools, nearly 11,000 current public school students also applied.
As of May 20, the Alabama Department of Revenue had awarded 14,350 ESAs to students heading to private schools, but it has not released a full breakdown of how many of those were previously enrolled in public schools.
What happens when schools lose teacher units?
Districts typically reduce staff by not replacing retirees, but they may also choose not to renew contracts for certain teachers, especially those who are not tenured. Teachers without tenure, usually those with fewer than three years in the district, are often the first to be let go.
A loss in state-funded teacher units doesn’t always mean job cuts. Some districts use local funds to make up the difference and preserve staffing levels.
What is a teacher unit, and why does it matter?
A teacher unit is a funding tool, not tied to a specific person, that represents a budget slot for one teaching position. In early grades, one unit is earned for about every 14 students. In higher grades, it’s closer to one per 18 to 20 students.
Units are also provided based on enrollment for other roles, including principals, assistant principals, counselors, librarians and career tech staff.
Each unit brings more than just salary and benefits. The Foundation Program also includes classroom instructional support funding tied to each unit:
- $900 for student materials
- $500 for technology
- $157.72 for library enhancement
- $100 for professional development
- $100 for common purchases
Textbook funding is also part of the Foundation Program but is allocated based on student headcount, not teacher units.
Full Foundation Program funding documents for the 2025–26 school year have not yet been posted, but Alabama State Department of Education officials say they will be available soon.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Trisha Powell Crain and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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