Funding Cuts Put School Social Workers At Risk

The St. Mary’s County Board of Education is weighing potential cuts to student support staff as federal grant funding expires and budget pressures mount ahead of the fiscal year 2027 budget.

In January 2026, the board reviewed anticipated federal funding reductions that could affect up to 13 school social worker positions. The cuts stem from the expiration of COVID-era grants and reductions in other funding tied to policy decisions under the Trump administration. District leaders said the changes could require eliminating positions or reclassifying some roles to preserve staffing where possible.

Public response has been strong. During a Feb. 18 hearing, school social workers, staff and students urged the board to maintain the positions, highlighting the role they play in supporting students during crises.

Supporters distributed data outlining the scope of services provided: 6,179 students served, 10,197 crisis walk-ins, 1,703 risk assessments, 2,856 weekly counseling sessions and 535 students participating in group counseling.

At the board’s March 4 meeting, Superintendent Scott Smith acknowledged that feedback while reading a resolution recognizing School Social Worker Week.

“The board heard resoundingly from the community at the public hearing,” Smith said. “We will make the very best decisions for kids and those who care for kids, and you are at the center of that.”

Later in the meeting, Jeff DiRenzo, director of student services, presented an overview of staffing across the district’s student support roles.

School counselors are responsible for academic, social-emotional and career development, while pupil personnel workers focus on attendance, discipline, residency issues, homelessness and crisis support. School psychologists provide assessment, intervention and behavioral health services, and social workers deliver mental health counseling, crisis response and connections to outside resources.

St. Mary’s County is designated by the federal government as a mental health professional shortage area, meaning available providers do not meet community needs. School-based services help fill part of that gap, alongside programs such as the Health Hub and school-based health centers operated by the local health department.

Even so, staffing levels fall short of recommended standards.

from SMCPS presentation

The district has one school counselor for every 345 students — the highest ratio in the tri-county area — compared with the American School Counselor Association’s recommended 1-to-250 ratio. Meeting that benchmark would require hiring 18 additional counselors at an estimated cost of $1.8 million.

from SMCPS presentation

Pupil personnel workers are staffed at a ratio of about 1 to 1,950 students, slightly better than the state recommendation of 1 to 2,000. However, Smith noted that staffing flexibility is limited because some schools must have dedicated positions under state Blueprint funding requirements.

from SMCPS presentation

The district’s 14 school psychologists each serve about 1,184 students, more than double the 1-to-500 ratio recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists. Meeting that standard would require 18 additional hires, also estimated at $1.8 million. DiRenzo noted a nationwide shortage of school psychologists, emphasizing the importance of retaining current staff.

from SMCPS presentation

Social workers face the largest gap. National guidelines recommend one social worker per 250 students, but St. Mary’s ratio is approximately 1 to 1,184. Of the district’s 14 social worker positions, 13 are funded through grants that are set to expire. Maintaining those roles would cost about $1 million.

Smith said the funding loss is tied to state-level changes allowing school systems to bill families directly for mental health services. The board was notified of the shift in January.

Without the additional funding, Smith said the district could be forced to eliminate ten certificated positions across central office staff, coordinators, counselors and pupil personnel workers if they kept the social worker positions.

from SMCPS presentation

The superintendent also noted recent staffing reductions, including 17 positions cut last year and 87 positions eliminated since fiscal year 2024.

“Fifty-nine percent of the revenue of the county is spent on expenses not related to the education of children,” Smith said. “We’ve had to change with the times, and funding has not kept up.”

To maintain current staffing levels across all categories, the Board of Education would need an additional $4.6 million beyond the $8.5 million already requested to fund negotiated salary agreements. County commissioners have indicated they plan to fund only the $8.5 million request.

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