Wake County schools are considering cutting $18 million from the special education budget for the 2026–27 school year, including the reduction of about 130 positions across the district. Parents and educators gathered at a school board meeting to urge leaders not to cut the budget. The district's Chief Business Officer, David Neter, said this budget is the most challenging they've faced in the past 20 years due to uncertainty about federal funding and the absence of a finalized state budget. Some school board members blame the state for the shortfall, blaming it for underfunding public education and other services. The proposed budget will be formally presented to the board on April 7.