FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Poudre School District is eliminating 182 educator positions heading into the next school year, citing budget issues as the driving force behind the cuts.
The move comes after months of conversations about declining enrollment, forcing Poudre School District to consider how its budget could reshape schools across the district.
▶️ WATCH: Poudre schools cut 182 positions
PSD is projected to have 654 fewer students in its schools next year, citing fewer school-aged children in the area due to declining birth rates and fewer younger families moving into the area due to housing costs.
Denver7 was there as parents brought their concerns to the district’s first community meeting back in April, raising questions about programs, staffing and how changes could impact their kids.
"I think a large part of what makes up a school is the community of teachers and people who work there," one parent told district leaders during that meeting.
That community is now shrinking.
The reductions include the non-renewal of 110 teaching positions and the elimination of 72 classified positions at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Building and department leaders handle staffing and budget decisions at each site, tailoring them to meet the unique needs of specific schools and departments, according to the district.
District officials told Denver7 not all the reductions are layoffs.
"In some cases, positions vacated by retiring or resigning staff were not backfilled. These numbers are still being finalized as the district transitions between fiscal years, so totals may shift," a district spokesperson said.
The changes also include pay raises. A total of $5.4 million was allocated to compensation for the 2026-2027 school year. Licensed and classified staff will receive a 1.81% increase, while administrative and professional staff will receive a 1.62% increase. The raises were determined through the district's negotiations process with its three employee associations — the Poudre Education Association (PEA), the Association of Classified Employees (ACE), and the Poudre Association of School Executives (PASE) — which concluded in late May, according to the district.
“Actual increases vary by individual, as a portion of the funding goes toward market adjustments and increases also depend on an employee's placement on the salary schedule,” the district said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Poudre Education Association questioned raises for senior leaders while cuts continue across the board.
“As employees continue to navigate increasing workloads, staffing challenges, and ongoing affordability issues in Northern Colorado, the decision to increase compensation for senior leaders — many of whom already receive total compensation packages approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually — is difficult of reconcile with the financial realities facing the broader district workforce,” the group said in a statement.
Parents say the losses will be felt throughout the school community.
Tony Morales, a parent, said the burden of fewer staff will fall on those who remain.
"When faculty is not there, then the others have to pick up the slack," Morales said.
"I immediately think of the kids," Breanna Morales said.
She also stressed the long-term consequences of reducing the educator workforce.
"If we want future leaders, future teachers, future doctors around, I mean, we need teachers," Breanna said.
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Denver7 education reporter Adria Iraheta reached out to school districts along the Front Range to learn more about how the cuts will impact schools in our area. Here's what she learned:
Denver Public Schools
DPS tells us it anticipates losing roughly $10 million in federal funding tied to Title programs, saying there would be "direct impact on students and staff."
Superintendent Alex Marrero released a statement saying the district "strongly urges" the U.S. Department of Education and the White House's budget management office to release the 2025 funds immediately.
"Districts like Denver—and others across the nation—have planned, budgeted, and in many cases, already hired staff in reliance on these funds," his statement read in part. "Withholding these critical dollars just days before the new school year begins will result in widespread disruption: classrooms without teachers, students without essential support services, and schools facing impossible budget shortfalls."
Boulder Valley School District
BVSD provided Denver7 with the most detailed breakdown of the impact. The district estimates $973,000 in funding would be affected:
- An estimated $693,000 – last year's amount – in state teacher training grants (Title II-A)
- An estimated $280,000 – last year's amount – for an English Learners grant (Titles III-A)
- A 60% reduction for the final year of its 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant
- No reduction to Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants (Title IV-A) that BVSD received in June
- The district added that it does not receive funds for migrant education programs (Title I-C)
Douglas County School District
DougCo Schools tells us grant funding accounts for 1% of its general fund.
"We have enough in prior year carryover Title funds that we will not have to make cuts this year," a district spokesperson said. "While this could eventually impact services we provide to some of our most vulnerable students, as of right now, we are holding strong with still providing the same level of service and not laying off any staff members who are funded with these grants."
Cherry Creek School District
A CCSD spokesperson said the district is "still working through" the potential impact, but estimated it would amount to approximately $2.4 million.
Jeffco Schools
In a joint statement, the school board and superintendent said they were "deeply concerned" about the withheld funds, which they say total $3.3 million for the district.
The district said it was already pulling on reserves and preparing for financial reductions in the 2027 fiscal year. It called for the "immediate release" of the funds by the Trump administration.
"If not reinstated, Jeffco will be forced to reduce or eliminate important services and roles already planned for this year, including professional learning and coaching for staff, ESL and newcomer supports, student engagement and truancy interventions, and family and community outreach efforts," the statement read in part. "We are actively seeking community partners to help us fill the gaps—especially for the students and families who rely most on these critical services."
Adria also reached out to Aurora Public Schools. We'll update this story if and when we hear back from additional districts.
See the full list of allocations for which Colorado schools have not received funding in a letter sent to superintendents on June 30.