The Reading School District is under severe financial stress. In June, 2012, it laid off 110 teachers, 66 teaching assistants, 24 clerical workers, 12 security guards, eight maintenance and custodial workers, seven administrators and six administrative support employees.. The district increased class size and closed one under enrolled elementary school. In 2009, the district opened four sixth grade magnet schools – Communications and Technology, Agriculture, Science and Ecology, Business and World Languages, and Performing Arts. The schools were abolished at the end of the 2011-12 school year. Sixth graders were moved to the middle schools.