2025-26 Budget Development
Budget Outlook for 2025-26
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) continues to face a substantial budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26 and beyond. For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the gap between anticipated revenue and anticipated spending is approximately $100 million.
Budget Development Timeline
- January: Superintendent’s preliminary budget proposals for 2025-26 as directed by Educational Program Resolution; Legislative Session begins
- January – June: Internal technical budget processes
- January – June: Strategic Plan Task Force and Advisory Work
- February: Capital and EP&O Levies on the ballot
- February – March: School funding is determined by student enrollment projections for next year. Schools work with their communities to plan budgets that match their continuous improvement plans.
- April: Legislature adopts 2025-27 Biennial Budget
- May: Budget study session to preview the Superintendent’s budget recommendation pending the outcome of the legislative session.
- June & July: The School Board is scheduled to review the final budget recommendation in June and is scheduled to vote on a final budget in July.
How can families, staff, and community stay informed and participate in the budget development process?
- Attend School Board meetings in-person or remotely. View the School Board meeting calendar.
- Stay informed about legislative activities.
- Engage with your school and department leaders.
Operating Budget Development Documents
- August 29, 2024: Budget Study Session
- September 18, 2024: Budget Study Session
- December 18, 2024: Board adopts Educational Program Resolution per Board Policy No. 0060
- January 22, 2025: Budget Study Session
- February 26, 2025: Board Engagement
- May 14, 2025: Budget Study Session
- June 4, 2025: Introduce Recommended Budget for 2025-26 & Public Hearing
- July 1, 2025: Action on 2025-26 Recommended Budget
Schools’ Budget Development Documents
- School Budget Development Instructions 2025-26 (“Gold Book”)
- 2025-26 School Allocations (“Purple Book”)
Weighted Staffing Standards (“WSS”) Workgroup
Per district policy, the Weighted Staffing Standards “WSS” workgroup meets each year and makes recommendations to the Superintendent about potential changes for the following year’s direct school funding.
WSS Meeting Minutes
Due to the high volume of questions we may get on this topic, we will not be able to respond to every question individually.
We will create an FAQ on this webpage that will be updated with the most common questions. Please submit your questions for consideration and we will do our best to get all questions answered on the FAQ soon. Thank you for your understanding!
Submit Budget Development questions via Let’s Talk