Budget Development 2024-25
Balancing the Budget and Fiscal Considerations
Like many school districts across the state, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is facing a significant budget deficit. The district has been working hard to respond to this challenge. We aim to stabilize the SPS budget over time while creating better, stronger well-resourced schools.
On December 13, 2023, the School Board adopted Resolution No. 2023-24-7, which directs the Superintendent to develop a Fiscal Stabilization plan to address the budget deficit for the 2024-25 school year.
Budget Development for 2024-25 and Beyond
Update to Community on Seattle Public Schools Budget: Supporting Students Together
Principals are developing their building’s budget for the next school year. Budgets guide us as we work to prioritize inclusive and high-quality education for our students.
To achieve a balanced budget, we know we must make changes. We are approaching these decisions in a thoughtful way to ensure we minimize negative impacts on student learning.
Read the full March budget updateSchools’ Allocations for the 2024-25 School Year
Schools are allocated staff and discretionary budget in February each year, upon which to build their budget for the following year. These allocations are based on enrollment projections provided by Enrollment Planning and applied to the Weighted Staffing Standards (WSS) model.
Throughout March, schools develop their budget for the upcoming school year based on these enrollment projections, staffing and budget allocations.
The district provides each school with a staffing allocation designed to meet the student to teacher ratio requirements for basic, multilingual, and special education as well as office positions.
In addition, the district allocates discretionary funds that allow each school to customize their budgets to meet their individual needs. These discretionary dollars can be used for supplies, curriculum, professional development, or other needs. Schools may also use their discretionary allocations to fund additional staff.
Specific allocations for each school are available in the Schools’ Funding Allocation 2024-25 report (aka “Purple Book”).
In April and May, schools and central office department budgets are finalized to prepare next year’s recommended budget to the Seattle School Board.
School-based Budget Process and Opportunities for Participation
Each school has a Building Leadership Team (BLT) that promotes and facilitates collaborative site-based decision making. The BLT and the principal oversee the facilitation and development of the school budget, and this serves as a way for parents / guardians to be involved with the school’s process.
Weighted Staffing Standards (WSS) Allocation Model
The Weighted Staffing Standards (WSS) model is on pages 2-13 of the Schools’ Funding Allocation 2024-25 report (aka “Purple Book”). A work group made up of staff meet regularly to review the model and make recommendations on any adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Seattle Public Schools Funded?
School districts receive their funding based on the number of students and the characteristics of the students they educate each year. All students are general education students first but additional resources may be provided for students with special needs or students identified as financially insecure.
The majority of funding comes from the state with other funding from the federal government, local property taxes, City of Seattle programs and individual donors.
What funding sources do schools have?
Washington school districts are funded by several sources which include local taxpayers, state funding, and federal funding. Learn more about funding sources
Budget Development Documents
2024-25 School Allocations (“Purple Book”)
School Budget Development Instructions 2024-25 (“Gold Book”)
Weighted Staffing Standards (WSS)
October 10, 2023 – WSS Meeting Notes
General Budget Information
Funding Sources for Schools
Washington school districts are funded by several sources which include local, state, and federal funding. Details can be found in the adopted Budget on page 19 or open the 2023-24 General Fund graphic “Where Does our Money Come From?”
Seattle Schools’ Maintenance and Operations Levy
Most of Seattle Public Schools’ levy supports critical basic education programs which are not fully funded by the state.
- These include areas such as special education and multilingual education teachers and instructional aides, and the gap in salaries between what compensation costs and what the state pays.
- A much smaller amount of levy is used for areas that would be considered enrichment, like security, transportation, and student activities such as athletics, drama, and music in schools.
- Learn more about the district levies.
City of Seattle’s Families and Education Levy
The City of Seattle’s Families and Education Levy is administered by the city’s Office for Education and provides various programs to families in the city such as community and school based family support, preschool programs, school based health centers, grants to schools for academic innovation, and a school readiness program for families with children ages two and three not enrolled in a formal early learning program.
Learn more about the City of Seattle levy.
Seattle Public Schools’ Current Budget
Seattle Public Schools 2023-24 Adopted Budget
More Information about How School Funding Works
A Citizen’s Guide to Washington State Finance was prepared by staff of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee with the assistance of the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) Committee.
Additional K-12 Financial Resources
Development Timeline for 2024-25 Budget
September 20, 2023
October 17, 2023
November 15, 2023
December 13, 2023
January 17, 2024
March 20, 2024
April 3, 2024
May 8, 2024
June 10, 2024
July 2, 2024
August 28, 2024