Stanislaus County schools largely escape mass education layoffs across the state
Across California, school districts have announced mass layoffs in the hundreds and even thousands. While school districts in Stanislaus County have issued notices of anticipated layoffs, none have exceeded 30, and only one has been in the double digits.
Ahead of the 2026-27 school year, Modesto City Schools authorized 30 layoffs, Riverbank Unified issued seven, Ceres Unified issued six, Patterson Joint Unified issued two and Turlock Unified issued zero. None will impact teachers.
“Over the past several years, the district has proactively adjusted staffing levels to align with lower enrollment and associated reductions in funding,” Ceres Unified spokesperson Beth Jimenez said. “This ‘right-sizing’ has occurred primarily through attrition as employees retire or resign, allowing us to preserve student programs while avoiding the need for widespread layoffs.”
In the Central Valley, Fresno Unified authorized 274 layoffs and Sacramento City Unified authorized 800. In the Bay Area, Oakland Unified is looking at 400.
Layoffs in public education come by March 15, a state-issued deadline, and are a reflection of largely budgetary decisions. However, the notices are not final as districts navigate retirements and reassignments that ultimately could allow them to retain laid-off employees.
During the 2025 round of layoffs at MCS, 44 of the 47 staff members laid off were reassigned, though many were at reduced compensation and hours.
This year, the confluence of dwindling pandemic-era funds and attendance-based funding taking a hit due to declining enrollment and chronic absenteeism has led districts across the state to issue high numbers of layoffs.
Berkeleyside reported that public schools in the state are facing layoffs of at least 2,700 classified staff and about 1,900 teachers.
