Meta description (SEO): Seattle Public Schools (Seattle USD/SPS) closed out summer by adopting a 2025–26 budget that eliminates a $104M gap without closures, locking in first day of school dates, and advancing a superintendent search—while families prepare for buses, sports, meals, and cell-phone rules. Full guide, timelines, and resources inside.
The headline developments
Budget adopted, deficit eliminated—no schools closing this year. In early July, the School Board adopted SPS’s 2025–26 operating budget. The district says the $1.35B plan closes the projected $104M gap through a blend of revenue increases, targeted central office reductions, and fund-balance strategies—and it keeps all schools open. For families who endured months of “what might close?” anxiety last year, this is the clearest signal yet that the 2025–26 school year will begin without shuttered campuses.
First day of school is set. Mark your calendars: Grades 1–12 start Wednesday, Sept. 3, with preschool and kindergarten beginning Monday, Sept. 8. As usual, SPS will run 75-minute early release every Wednesday (except the first and last day of school), and the last day is slated for June 17 (60-minute early release).
New superintendent—not before fall. The School Board is deep into a national search with HYA; after extending the timeline in July, the board now targets late October for selecting the next permanent superintendent. Community engagement wrapped in early August; application review and interviews run into fall. In the meantime, Chief Operating Officer Fred Podesta is serving as acting superintendent, a role the Board assigned in June as outgoing Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones entered medical leave ahead of his Sept. 3 departure.
Why the budget matters—and what changed
Last year’s spring headlines were dominated by closure scenarios tied to enrollment declines and a structural gap. This summer’s budget story is different. Key takeaways for 2025–26:
Gap closed without school closures. District finance staff say they solved the near-term shortfall by extending part of an interfund loan, using unrestricted fund balance, deferring a rainy-day repayment, trimming central budgets, and capturing higher-than-expected revenues. The emphasis is on short-term stabilization while lawmakers debate the state’s K–12 funding model. Scale and focus. SPS’s $1.35 billion General Fund remains teaching-heavy, with the district noting 70%+ of spending is “Teaching and Teaching Support.” Families will notice fewer central-office add-ons and a continued push to protect classroom time.
If you track budgets, you’ll recall SPS also protected school operations in 2024–25, delaying any closure decisions to allow a fuller community process and to re-run the numbers. That decision framed this year’s outcome.
The superintendent search: what families should know now
A superintendent transition typically shapes a district’s trajectory for years. Here’s the short version of a long process:
Timeline: After extending the search in late July, the Board aims to pick a finalist by late October, with onboarding to follow. Don’t expect a new leader in place by the first day of school; staff will open the year under acting superintendent Fred Podesta. Process: The Board’s Superintendent Search page tracks milestones, from the community survey and listening sessions to screening and vetting phases. The district is using Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) to run a national search. Context: Dr. Brent Jones announced in March he would step down at summer’s end, citing family reasons. The district then designated the COO as acting superintendent during Jones’s leave.
Bottom line: Expect stability at open—then a leadership decision in the fall that will steer the next strategic plan and how SPS tackles enrollment, transportation, and instructional priorities.
Back-to-school essentials: dates, buses, sports, devices, meals
Key dates at a glance
Sept. 3: First day for grades 1–12 (not an early-release day) Sept. 8: First day for preschool & kindergarten Every Wednesday: 75-minute early release (except the first/last day of school) Oct. 10: State in-service day (no school) Nov. 24–26: Elementary & K–8 family-teacher conferences (no school for those grades; most middle schools open) June 17: Last day of school (60-minute early release) Full calendar and printable PDFs are on the district site.
Transportation: allow extra time early on
SPS contracts for most yellow-bus service and has wrestled with driver shortages and route delays since the pandemic. While the district and vendors continue to hire, families should build in buffer time the first weeks and monitor notifications closely. Past reporting flagged recurring delays; SPS posts updates as routes settle.
Athletics: fall sports are underway
High-school fall sports practices traditionally begin in mid-to-late August, with tryouts and paperwork (FinalForms, physicals) required before participation. School athletics pages outline dates and contact points; check your school’s site for specifics as calendars vary by program.
Devices & phones: know your school’s rules
District policy keeps SPS-issued devices as the primary learning tools; personal devices (BYOD) are generally for classroom-directed use only. On cell phones, SPS leaves implementation to schools: many secondary campuses are now “away for the day” with locked pouches or strict stow-and-go rules from bell to bell. Check your school’s handbook for the local version.
Meals: who pays what?
SPS participates in federal nutrition programs and notes some schools qualify for free meals for all students under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Others use household applications to determine eligibility. Your school office or the district nutrition page can confirm your site’s status.
What changed this summer (and why it matters for fall)
1) Budget clarity eases closure anxiety—for now
A year ago, closure lists were on the table as SPS modeled savings against a structural gap. By July 2, the Board adopted a budget that keeps all schools open for 2025–26, turning the near-term focus from “which schools survive?” to “how do we stabilize staffing, schedules, and instruction?” The district credits a mix of funding shifts and cost control—and signals that broader fixes still hinge on state funding debates. Families can open the year without a moving-target school assignment.
2) Calendar certainty lets families plan around Wednesdays
Seattle’s long-standing contract formula sets the first Wednesday in September as Day One, and the weekly early release continues this year. For childcare, after-school clubs, and sports logistics, locking this in two months out is huge—especially for K–5 families juggling pickups.
3) Leadership transition moves into its decisive phase
With community feedback gathered and applications in, the Board’s October decision window gives SPS a chance to name a leader who can own the 2026–31 strategic plan cycle. Given the stakes—enrollment stabilization, academic recovery, special education compliance, and reliable transportation—the hire will shape everything from bell schedules to the next levy outreach. Until then, Acting Superintendent Podesta will quarterback the opening weeks.
Practical guides for the first two weeks
Transportation checklist
Confirm route & stop via the district’s bus portal or school communications; note that assignments can change as ridership updates. Morning buffer: Plan to arrive 5–10 minutes early the first week; driver shortages have historically created delays as routes normalize. Plan B: If your student has IEP-mandated or specialized transportation, ensure the school has your backup plan and contact numbers documented.
Technology & classroom-device etiquette
Bring the district device charged; BYOD is for teacher-directed use, not free-surfing. Phones away: Many schools are strict—phone off and stowed, or in a pouch—throughout the day. Confirm the rule at your building to avoid first-week confiscations or calls home.
Health, heat, and smoke days
Late-summer heat waves and wildfire smoke sometimes push indoor days or cancel outdoor practice. SPS follows state and county guidance on AQI thresholds and heat safety. Expect short-notice changes for recess and athletics if air quality spikes.
Sports & activities
Get cleared (forms + physical). Check tryout windows on your school’s page; football, cross-country, girls soccer, girls swim & dive, volleyball, and golf open across August depending on league calendars.
Community voices & pressure points
Budget relief without closures calms one front, but families and educators are still pressing on bigger issues:
State funding model: Parent coalitions argue districts like Seattle can’t sustainably balance budgets under current formulas tied to staffing assumptions and enrollment targets that don’t reflect post-pandemic realities. Expect amplification during the 2025 legislative session as local groups push Olympia for changes. Enrollment churn and program placement: From waitlists to language-immersion feeder patterns, families want predictability. (KUOW reported SPS lifted some waitlists this summer after complaints, and Seattle Times has tracked proposed program moves.) Watch Board agendas for enrollment updates—Aug. 26 includes one alongside the search briefing. Transportation reliability: Driver pipelines and vendor performance remain under scrutiny citywide; SPS isn’t alone in wrestling with missed or late routes. Families are watching how the first weeks go and whether communication improves versus last fall.
What’s next on the official calendar
Aug. 26, Board Special Meeting: Superintendent search leadership profile update, civics update, and enrollment update. Livestream and materials will post to the meeting page. Early September: School starts, and the Board’s search moves into screening and interviews per the district’s posted process. Late October (target): Board selection of next superintendent and contract negotiations.
Quick resource links (what to bookmark)
2025–26 Budget overview & documents (adopted): highlights, gap-closure tactics, and fund summaries. 2025–26 School Year Calendar (English + translations): first/last day, early release, breaks, and conferences. Superintendent Search hub: process steps, community engagement summary, and fall timeline. School athletics pages (for tryout dates & clearance): start from your school’s site. Device/BYOD guidance (district) + sample school phone rules. Heat & smoke safety for schools: state and county guidance used by districts.
FAQ (SEO-focused)
Is Seattle USD closing schools this year?
No. The Board adopted a 2025–26 budget that eliminates the projected $104M gap and keeps all schools open this year.
When do Seattle Public Schools start in 2025?
Grades 1–12 start Wednesday, Sept. 3; preschool and kindergarten start Monday, Sept. 8. Early release is every Wednesday (except first/last day).
Who is running the district on Day One?
Fred Podesta is acting superintendent while the Board completes its national search. A permanent superintendent decision is now targeted for late October.
Will bus routes be stable the first week?
Expect some start-of-year variability as vendors finalize coverage and ridership settles; allow extra time and monitor district alerts.
What’s SPS’s policy on phones and personal devices?
District devices are the default learning tool; BYOD is classroom-controlled, and many schools run “away for the day” phone policies. Check your school’s handbook for specifics.
Editorial note on photos & usage
All images above come from Wikimedia Commons under free-use licenses (CC BY-SA/GFDL) from the original photographers or institutions. From left to right in the carousel: Garfield High School exterior; John Stanford International School (historic Latona School) front; Rainier Beach High School east façade; and Ballard High School entry. Please credit the photographers per the license pages when reusing.
Suggested headline & SEO pack
Primary H1: Seattle USD Two-Month Roundup: Budget Balanced, Calendar Set, Superintendent Search Advances H2 variants for sections: “Seattle Public Schools Budget 2025–26,” “Seattle USD School Calendar 2025–26,” “Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Search Timeline,” “Back-to-School Guide: Buses, Sports, Devices, Meals” Keywords to weave naturally: Seattle USD, Seattle Public Schools news, SPS 2025–26 budget, Seattle school calendar 2025, Seattle superintendent search, Seattle school bus routes, SPS athletics start dates, SPS cell phone policy Slug: seattle-usd-two-months-aug-sept-2025 Meta description (≤155 chars): Budget balanced with no closures; calendar set; superintendent search targets October; practical back-to-school tips for buses, sports, and devices.
Optional structured data (JSON-LD):<script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "headline": "Seattle USD Two-Month Roundup: Budget Balanced, Calendar Set, Superintendent Search Advances", "datePublished": "2025-08-20", "dateModified": "2025-08-20", "about": ["Seattle Public Schools", "Seattle USD", "K-12 education"], "articleSection": ["Budget", "School Calendar", "Superintendent Search", "Back to School"], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Your Newsroom" } } </script>
For deeper reading (source highlights)
Budget adoption & highlights (2025–26): district summary—gap closed, all schools open, high-level allocations. 2025–26 school calendar & key dates: first day, early release, breaks. Superintendent search hub: process detail and fall timeline. Timeline extension & October selection target: KUOW coverage. Interim leadership appointment: West Seattle Blog on Fred Podesta as acting superintendent. Transportation context: recent coverage of ongoing bus delays and staffing. Devices & phones: district digital learning guidance and school-level phone rules. Heat & wildfire smoke guidance: state/county protocols used by schools.
Have a specific neighborhood or school in mind for a photo caption or transportation tip? Tell me which campus or route, and I’ll tailor a quick, family-friendly checklist with contacts at that school.