The Seattle School Board approved a $1.34 billion operating budget for the 2026-27 school year Wednesday, the same day members of the Seattle Education Association (SEA) voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if the union and district fail to reach a new contract.
More than 72% of the district’s General Fund is devoted to teaching and teaching support. To close its budget gap for the coming year, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) relied on school staffing changes, reductions to centrally funded budgets, transportation savings, and other measures. The district is also using available fund balance, delaying repayment to its Economic Stabilization, or “Rainy Day,” Fund, and using capital-fund interest earnings and federal energy rebates.
The adopted budget balances district finances for 2026-27 but does not resolve the longer-term structural deficit. Looking ahead, SPS says it plans to rebuild its savings, revisit central office operations, and reconsider how it determines staffing levels at individual schools. The district also plans to look for additional ways to reduce costs and bring in revenue.
The district has a separate budget of more than $557 million for school construction and building improvements. That includes continued work at Aki Kurose Middle School and Memorial Stadium. The new Alki Elementary building and Rainier Beach High School Performing Arts Center are scheduled to open this fall.
The district’s finances are also part of the teacher contract negotiations. SEA says its bargaining team considers what SPS can afford when evaluating its proposals. SEA, which represents nearly 6,000 teachers, paraprofessionals and other educators, brought 57 proposals to the bargaining table. As of Wednesday, the two sides had reached tentative agreements on fewer than 10. Major unresolved issues include compensation, class sizes, workloads and caseloads, and special education.
SEA is seeking raises of 1% to 3% for certificated employees and 3% to 5% for classified employees, in addition to state cost-of-living adjustments. The union says its proposals take the district’s financial constraints into account. The current contract expires Aug. 31.
Educators plan to gather at Judkins Park Saturday afternoon to make picket signs, practice chants and prepare for a possible strike. If the two sides do not reach an agreement, SEA says a strike could begin Sept. 2, the scheduled first day of school for students in grades 1 through 12. Preschool and kindergarten students are scheduled to begin Sept. 8.
Both SPS and SEA say they want to reach an agreement without a strike.
