Several major US school districts are approving teacher pay raises without the budget to fund them, forcing borrowing, renegotiations, and deep cuts. Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore County, and Fairfax County are struggling to honour contracts as enrollment declines, federal relief expires, and debt climbs, according to reporting by The 74 . Philadelphia Public Schools narrowly avoided a strike in late August after approving 3% annual raises for 14,000 educators, counsellors, and paraprofessionals, according to The 74 . Weeks later, the district sought permission to borrow up to $1.5 billion to cover the contract and other operating costs. The district’s budget reflects a growing deficit projected to reach $466 million by 2027 and $774 million by 2030. Declining enrollment, which

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