{
 "sources": [
  {
   "id": "ospi-f196",
   "name": "Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)",
   "url": "https://ospi.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/school-apportionment/school-publications/financial-reporting-summary",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "Annual school district financial statements (F-196): general fund expenditures by program and object, revenues by source, and the enrollment OSPI uses for per-pupil figures. 10-year workbook (https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2025-12/10_year_f-196_data_2024-25.xlsx) for 2014-15 to 2024-25; 2013-14 and detail rows from the SAFS F-196 data files (https://ospi.k12.wa.us/safs-data-files).",
   "licenseName": "Washington State public record",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public government data; derived tables redistributed with attribution.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "government",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "OSPI compiles the year-end financial statements every Washington school district must file (form F-196). Figures are as reported by the district; OSPI publishes them without audit adjustment."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "ospi-section-one",
   "name": "OSPI Financial Reporting Summary, Section One",
   "url": "https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2025-12/24-25_f-196_section_1_for_posting.pdf",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "Statewide general fund expenditures and per-pupil spending by year, 2014-15 to 2024-25 (2013-14 from the 2022-23 edition: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-12/2022-23_section_one_statewideaveragefinancialtablesandcharts.pdf).",
   "licenseName": "Washington State public record",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public government document.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "government",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "OSPI summary of all districts' F-196 reports; used here for the statewide comparison. Its per-pupil enrollment counts K-12 FTE plus some special-education and institutional students."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "ospi-report-card",
   "name": "OSPI Report Card enrollment (data.wa.gov)",
   "url": "https://data.wa.gov/d/rxjk-6ieq",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "October headcount by grade for Seattle School District No. 1, 2014-15 to 2024-25; 2025-26 from https://data.wa.gov/d/wvqy-yp3m.",
   "licenseName": "Washington State open data",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public open data.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "government",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "Headcount of students enrolled on the October count date, as districts report it to OSPI. Earliest year in this series is 2014-15."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "sps-budget-2026-27",
   "name": "Seattle Public Schools 2026-27 Budget Book",
   "url": "https://www.seattleschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/26-27-Budget-Book-Online.pdf",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "2024-25 actual and 2025-26 and 2026-27 budgeted general fund totals; K-12 AAFTE 2022-23 to 2026-27; fund balance outlook.",
   "licenseName": "Public record",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public document; figures quoted with attribution.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "partyToDispute",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "The district's own adopted budget. SPS argues the state underfunds it, but these figures are its audited actuals and adopted budgets, which match OSPI's records."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "sps-budget-2015-16",
   "name": "Seattle Public Schools Adopted Budget 2015-2016 (copy)",
   "url": "https://storage.googleapis.com/sps-btn-data-all-data/raw/sps/budget/2015-2016-budget-book.pdf",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "2013-14 actual general fund summary (F-195 format) and 2013-14 actual K-12 AAFTE.",
   "licenseName": "Public record",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public document; figures quoted with attribution.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "partyToDispute",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "SPS no longer posts this book on its site; this copy is kept by a parent-run data project. Its 2013-14 totals match OSPI's F-196 records to the dollar."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "sps-budget-2016-17",
   "name": "Seattle Public Schools Adopted Budget 2016-2017 (copy)",
   "url": "https://storage.googleapis.com/sps-btn-data-all-data/raw/sps/budget/2016-2017-adopted-budget.pdf",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "K-12 AAFTE 2012-13 to 2014-15 with kindergarten shown at half-day and state-funded full-day kindergarten separately.",
   "licenseName": "Public record",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public document; figures quoted with attribution.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "partyToDispute",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "District budget book copy kept by a parent-run data project; AAFTE figures are from OSPI report 1251."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "bls-cpi",
   "name": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U",
   "url": "https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUURS49DSA0",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-U (CUURS49DSA0, bimonthly) and U.S. city average CPI-U (CUUR0000SA0), averaged over each September-August school year.",
   "licenseName": "Public domain (U.S. government work)",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public domain.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "government",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "Official consumer price index. The Seattle index is published for even months only."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "bea-deflator",
   "name": "U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED",
   "url": "https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/A829RD3Q086SBEA",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "Implicit price deflator for state and local government consumption and investment (quarterly), averaged Q3 to Q2 for each school year; used as a sensitivity check.",
   "licenseName": "Public domain (U.S. government work)",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Public domain.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "government",
    "interest": "none",
    "note": "National index of the prices state and local governments pay, dominated by employee compensation; not specific to Washington or schools."
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "x-pnwconservative",
   "name": "@PNWConservative on X",
   "url": "https://x.com/PNWConservative/status/2116608461958221977",
   "retrievedAt": "2026-11-03",
   "role": "The post rated in the companion fact check.",
   "licenseName": "Quoted for commentary",
   "licenseUrl": null,
   "redistribution": "Quotation only.",
   "reliability": {
    "publisherKind": "advocacy",
    "interest": "aligned",
    "note": "Anonymous political account; the post argues for Initiative 645."
   }
  }
 ],
 "tables": [
  {
   "id": "annual",
   "title": "Annual spending, enrollment and prices",
   "description": "One row per school year, 2013-14 to 2024-25.",
   "artifactId": "annual-table",
   "unitOfObservation": "School year (September-August)",
   "fields": [
    {
     "name": "school_year",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "School year",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_gf_expenditures",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Seattle general fund expenditures, all programs",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": "Sum of F-196 general fund expenditure rows for district 17001",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_gf_revenues_and_other_sources",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Seattle general fund revenues and other financing sources",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": "Sum of revenue categories 1000-9000",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_enrollment_ospi_per_pupil_basis",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Enrollment OSPI uses for per-pupil figures (K-12 FTE plus some special-education and institutional students)",
     "units": "students (FTE)",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_k12_headcount_oct_report_card",
     "type": "integer",
     "description": "October headcount, all grades minus pre-kindergarten; blank for 2013-14 (series starts 2014-15)",
     "units": "students",
     "nullable": true,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": "All Grades minus Pre-Kindergarten",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-report-card"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_prek_headcount_report_card",
     "type": "integer",
     "description": "October pre-kindergarten headcount; blank for 2013-14",
     "units": "students",
     "nullable": true,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-report-card"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_gf_exp_per_student",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "General fund expenditures per student",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "sps_gf_expenditures / sps_enrollment_ospi_per_pupil_basis",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "seattle_cpi_u_school_year_avg",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-U, average of published months September-August",
     "units": "index 1982-84=100",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "Mean of the six bimonthly values",
     "sourceIds": [
      "bls-cpi"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_gf_exp_per_student_2024_25_dollars_seattle_cpi",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Spending per student in 2024-25 dollars",
     "units": "2024-25 US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "sps_gf_exp_per_student x CPI(2024-25) / CPI(year)",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "bls-cpi"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_gf_exp_2024_25_dollars_seattle_cpi",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "General fund expenditures in 2024-25 dollars",
     "units": "2024-25 US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "sps_gf_expenditures x CPI(2024-25) / CPI(year)",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "bls-cpi"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sl_gov_price_index_school_year_avg",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "BEA state and local government implicit price deflator, Q3-Q2 average",
     "units": "index 2017=100",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "Mean of four quarters",
     "sourceIds": [
      "bea-deflator"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "sps_gf_exp_per_student_2024_25_dollars_sl_deflator",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Spending per student in 2024-25 dollars using the BEA index",
     "units": "2024-25 US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "sps_gf_exp_per_student x index(2024-25) / index(year)",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "bea-deflator"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "us_cpi_u_school_year_avg",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "U.S. city average CPI-U, September-August average",
     "units": "index 1982-84=100",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "Mean of 12 months",
     "sourceIds": [
      "bls-cpi"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "wa_gf_expenditures",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Statewide total general fund expenditures, all districts",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "ospi-section-one"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "wa_enrollment_ospi_per_pupil_basis",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Statewide enrollment OSPI uses for per-pupil figures",
     "units": "students (FTE)",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "ospi-section-one"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "wa_gf_exp_per_student",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Statewide general fund expenditures per student",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "wa_gf_expenditures / wa_enrollment_ospi_per_pupil_basis",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "ospi-section-one"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "wa_gf_exp_per_student_2024_25_dollars_seattle_cpi",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Statewide spending per student in 2024-25 dollars (Seattle CPI-U)",
     "units": "2024-25 US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "wa_gf_exp_per_student x CPI(2024-25) / CPI(year)",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "bls-cpi"
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "by-program",
   "title": "Expenditures by program group",
   "description": "Long format: school year, program group, amount.",
   "artifactId": "program-table",
   "unitOfObservation": "School year x program group",
   "fields": [
    {
     "name": "school_year",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "School year",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "program_group",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "Program group (see analysis growth-by-program for codes)",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "Grouped F-196 program codes",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "amount",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "General fund expenditures",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": "Sum over codes in group",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "by-object",
   "title": "Expenditures by type of cost",
   "description": "Long format: school year, object group, amount.",
   "artifactId": "object-table",
   "unitOfObservation": "School year x object group",
   "fields": [
    {
     "name": "school_year",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "School year",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "object_group",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "F-196 object (salaries, benefits, services, supplies, travel, capital, transfers)",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "amount",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "General fund expenditures",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "revenue-by-source",
   "title": "Revenue by source",
   "description": "Long format: school year, revenue source category, amount.",
   "artifactId": "revenue-table",
   "unitOfObservation": "School year x revenue category",
   "fields": [
    {
     "name": "school_year",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "School year",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "revenue_source",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "F-196 top-level revenue category (7000, 8000 and 9000 combined)",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "amount",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Revenue and other financing sources",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "aafte",
   "title": "K-12 annual average FTE",
   "description": "State-funded K-12 AAFTE as printed in SPS budget books.",
   "artifactId": "aafte-table",
   "unitOfObservation": "School year",
   "fields": [
    {
     "name": "school_year",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "School year",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "sps-budget-2015-16",
      "sps-budget-2016-17",
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "k12_aafte",
     "type": "integer",
     "description": "K-12 AAFTE excluding Running Start, dropout re-engagement, summer school and F-1 visa students",
     "units": "students (FTE)",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": "2014-15: K-12 subtotal 48,809 plus 868 state-funded full-day kindergarten FTE",
     "sourceIds": [
      "sps-budget-2015-16",
      "sps-budget-2016-17",
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "basis",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "Actual or Budget",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "source_id",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "Source id",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": []
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "balance",
   "title": "Revenue minus spending",
   "description": "General fund revenues and other financing sources minus expenditures.",
   "artifactId": "balance-table",
   "unitOfObservation": "School year",
   "fields": [
    {
     "name": "school_year",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "School year",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "basis",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "Actual or Budget",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "revenues_and_other_sources",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Revenues and other financing sources",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "expenditures",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Expenditures",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "difference",
     "type": "number",
     "description": "Revenues and other sources minus expenditures",
     "units": "US dollars",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "derived",
     "derivation": "revenues_and_other_sources - expenditures",
     "sourceIds": [
      "ospi-f196",
      "sps-budget-2026-27"
     ]
    },
    {
     "name": "source_id",
     "type": "string",
     "description": "Source id",
     "units": "",
     "nullable": false,
     "valueType": "observed",
     "derivation": null,
     "sourceIds": []
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "events": [
  {
   "id": "full-day-k",
   "eventType": "policy",
   "date": "2016-09-01",
   "label": "State funds full-day kindergarten for all",
   "description": "From the 2016-17 school year the state funded full-day kindergarten for all Washington students, so kindergartners count as full-time in AAFTE.",
   "sourceIds": [
    "sps-budget-2016-17"
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "mccleary-funding",
   "eventType": "policy",
   "date": "2018-09-01",
   "label": "McCleary funding and levy limits take full effect",
   "description": "In the 2018-19 school year state funding per student jumped and local levies were capped under the Legislature's response to the McCleary school-funding ruling.",
   "sourceIds": [
    "ospi-section-one"
   ]
  }
 ],
 "analyses": [
  {
   "id": "spending-growth",
   "title": "General fund spending, 2013-14 vs 2024-25",
   "question": "How much did Seattle Public Schools' general fund spending grow from 2013-14 to 2024-25?",
   "operation": "Sum of all general fund expenditure rows (fund 1) reported on form F-196 for district 17001 in each year; percent change between the two years.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1, general fund, school years 2013-14 and 2024-25 (actuals).",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "measure": "General fund expenditures (dollars)",
     "value_2013_14": 611682782.97,
     "value_2024_25": 1195855065.08,
     "change_pct": 95.5
    },
    {
     "measure": "General fund expenditures in 2024-25 dollars (Seattle CPI-U)",
     "value_2013_14": 898994589,
     "value_2024_25": 1195855065,
     "change_pct": 33
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "General fund spending rose from $611.7 million in 2013-14 to $1,195.9 million in 2024-25, up 95.5%. In 2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices) it rose 33.0%.",
   "methodologicalNotes": [
    "The 2013-14 total ($611,682,783) equals the \"Actual 2013-14\" total expenditures in SPS's 2015-16 budget book; the 2024-25 total ($1,195,855,065) equals the 2024-25 actual in SPS's 2026-27 budget book.",
    "Inflation adjustment multiplies by the ratio of the 2024-25 to the given year's school-year average Seattle CPI-U."
   ],
   "limitations": [
    "General fund only: excludes capital projects, debt service, transportation vehicle and student body funds.",
    "Nominal growth includes inflation and enrollment change."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "enrollment-measures",
   "title": "Enrollment by three measures, start and end of the period",
   "question": "Did Seattle Public Schools' enrollment stay about the same from 2013-14 to 2024-25?",
   "operation": "Compare three published enrollment counts at the start and end of the period, and record each count's peak year.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1.",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "measure": "State-funded K-12 annual average FTE (AAFTE)",
     "start_year": "2013-14",
     "start": 48528,
     "end_year": "2024-25",
     "end": 48570,
     "change_pct": 0.1,
     "peak": null,
     "peak_year": null
    },
    {
     "measure": "OSPI per-student count (FTE)",
     "start_year": "2013-14",
     "start": 49980,
     "end_year": "2024-25",
     "end": 50542,
     "change_pct": 1.1,
     "peak": 55303,
     "peak_year": "2019-20"
    },
    {
     "measure": "October headcount, K-12",
     "start_year": "2014-15",
     "start": 52182,
     "end_year": "2024-25",
     "end": 50044,
     "change_pct": -4.1,
     "peak": 54489,
     "peak_year": "2019-20"
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "K-12 AAFTE was 48,528 in 2013-14 and 48,570 in 2024-25 (+0.1%). OSPI's per-student count rose 1.1% (49,980 to 50,542) after peaking at 55,303 in 2019-20. October K-12 headcount fell 4.1% from 2014-15 to 2024-25.",
   "methodologicalNotes": [
    "AAFTE excludes Running Start, dropout re-engagement, summer school and F-1 visa students; figures are as printed in SPS budget books from OSPI report 1251.",
    "In 2013-14 most kindergartners counted as 0.5 FTE (2,433 FTE) plus 867 FTE of state-funded full-day kindergarten. Counting all kindergartners as full-time, as since 2016-17, would raise 2013-14 AAFTE by about 1,566 to about 50,094, so like-for-like enrollment fell about 3%.",
    "October headcount excludes pre-kindergarten; the Report Card series starts in 2014-15."
   ],
   "limitations": [
    "AAFTE for 2015-16 to 2021-22 is not in the sources used, so the AAFTE series has gaps.",
    "The three measures count different students and are not interchangeable."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "per-student-trend",
   "title": "General fund spending per student, actual and 2024-25 dollars",
   "question": "How did Seattle Public Schools' spending per student change each year, before and after inflation?",
   "operation": "General fund expenditures divided by OSPI's per-pupil enrollment for each year; inflation-adjusted series multiplies by the ratio of 2024-25 to that year's school-year average Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-U.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1, 2013-14 to 2024-25.",
   "resultShape": "timeSeries",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "school_year": "2013-14",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 12239
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2013-14",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 17987
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2014-15",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 12665
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2014-15",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 18349
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2015-16",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 13690
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2015-16",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 19445
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2016-17",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 13895
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2016-17",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 19194
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2017-18",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 14951
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2017-18",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 20001
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2018-19",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 16753
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2018-19",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 21814
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2019-20",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 17483
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2019-20",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 22365
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2020-21",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 18387
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2020-21",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 22784
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2021-22",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 20662
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2021-22",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 23613
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2022-23",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 22114
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2022-23",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 23617
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2023-24",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 22564
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2023-24",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 23141
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2024-25",
     "series": "Actual dollars",
     "dollars": 23661
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2024-25",
     "series": "2024-25 dollars (Seattle prices)",
     "dollars": 23661
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "Spending per student rose from $12,239 (2013-14) to $23,661 (2024-25), up 93%. In 2024-25 dollars it rose from $17,987 to $23,661, up 31.5%; it reached $23,613 in 2021-22 and has been roughly flat since.",
   "methodologicalNotes": [
    "School-year CPI averages use the six months the Seattle index is published (October through August, even months)."
   ],
   "limitations": [
    "The per-pupil denominator includes some special-education preschool headcount and institutional students; it differs slightly from AAFTE.",
    "CPI measures consumer prices, not the costs schools pay; see the deflator sensitivity analysis."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z",
   "robustnessChecks": [
    {
     "analysisId": "deflator-sensitivity",
     "checkType": "sensitivity",
     "summary": "Using the national state-and-local government price index instead of Seattle CPI gives real per-student growth of 41.9% rather than 31.5%; U.S. CPI gives about 43%. Seattle CPI is the most conservative of the three."
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "deflator-sensitivity",
   "title": "Real growth in spending per student under three price indexes",
   "question": "How sensitive is real per-student growth to the choice of price index?",
   "operation": "Per-student spending growth 2013-14 to 2024-25 divided by each index's growth over the same school years.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1.",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "price_index": "Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-U",
     "index_growth_pct": 47,
     "real_per_student_growth_pct": 31.5
    },
    {
     "price_index": "U.S. city average CPI-U",
     "index_growth_pct": 35.4,
     "real_per_student_growth_pct": 42.7
    },
    {
     "price_index": "State and local government price index (BEA)",
     "index_growth_pct": 36.2,
     "real_per_student_growth_pct": 41.9
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "Prices rose 47.0% (Seattle CPI), 35.4% (U.S. CPI) or 36.2% (state and local government index). Real growth in spending per student was 31.5%, 42.7% or 41.9%.",
   "limitations": [
    "None of these indexes measures school costs directly."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "statewide-comparison",
   "title": "Seattle compared with all Washington districts",
   "question": "Did Seattle's spending grow faster than the statewide total?",
   "operation": "Same calculations for the statewide total of district general fund expenditures and OSPI's statewide per-pupil enrollment.",
   "scope": "Washington public school districts, charter and tribal schools, 2013-14 and 2024-25.",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "area": "Seattle Public Schools",
     "spending_growth_pct": 95.5,
     "per_student_2013_14": 12239,
     "per_student_2024_25": 23661,
     "per_student_growth_pct": 93.3,
     "real_per_student_growth_pct": 31.5,
     "enrollment_growth_pct": 1.1
    },
    {
     "area": "Washington statewide",
     "spending_growth_pct": 95.9,
     "per_student_2013_14": 10371,
     "per_student_2024_25": 19371,
     "per_student_growth_pct": 86.8,
     "real_per_student_growth_pct": 27.1,
     "enrollment_growth_pct": 4.9
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "Statewide general fund spending also nearly doubled (+95.9%) and per-student spending rose 86.8% ($10,371 to $19,371), 27.1% after Seattle-area inflation. Seattle per student rose 93.3% and in 2024-25 was 22% above the state average.",
   "methodologicalNotes": [
    "Statewide real figures use the Seattle CPI-U for comparability with Seattle; Washington has no statewide CPI."
   ],
   "limitations": [
    "Statewide totals include districts with very different costs and enrollment trends."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "growth-by-program",
   "title": "Where the increase went, by program",
   "question": "Which programs account for the growth in Seattle's general fund spending from 2013-14 to 2024-25?",
   "operation": "Sum expenditures by OSPI program code into groups; change and share of the total increase ($584.2 million).",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1 general fund.",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "group": "Basic education",
     "amount_2013_14": 293154222,
     "amount_2024_25": 500675715,
     "change": 207521493,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 35.5
    },
    {
     "group": "Special education",
     "amount_2013_14": 85889854,
     "amount_2024_25": 272339063,
     "change": 186449210,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 31.9
    },
    {
     "group": "Districtwide support",
     "amount_2013_14": 90832985,
     "amount_2024_25": 157338052,
     "change": 66505067,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 11.4
    },
    {
     "group": "Extra help for low-income students, English learners and others",
     "amount_2013_14": 55481568,
     "amount_2024_25": 95709327,
     "change": 40227758,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 6.9
    },
    {
     "group": "Student transportation",
     "amount_2013_14": 34173267,
     "amount_2024_25": 63526255,
     "change": 29352989,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 5
    },
    {
     "group": "Other instruction and community programs",
     "amount_2013_14": 29197881,
     "amount_2024_25": 56975270,
     "change": 27777389,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 4.8
    },
    {
     "group": "Career, technical and skills centers",
     "amount_2013_14": 9746367,
     "amount_2024_25": 28755001,
     "change": 19008635,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 3.3
    },
    {
     "group": "School food",
     "amount_2013_14": 13100322,
     "amount_2024_25": 20515334,
     "change": 7415012,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 1.3
    },
    {
     "group": "Federal pandemic relief (ESSER and CARES)",
     "amount_2013_14": 106317,
     "amount_2024_25": 21047,
     "change": -85270,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 0
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "Basic education accounted for 35.5% of the increase (+$207.5 million) and special education 31.9% (+$186.4 million). Special education spending rose from $85.9 million to $272.3 million, 3.2 times as much.",
   "methodologicalNotes": [
    "Groups: basic education 01-09; special education 21-29; federal pandemic relief 11-14, 19 and 23; career and technical 31-47; extra help (Title I, Learning Assistance, bilingual and other) 51-69; other instruction and community 71-89; districtwide support 97; food 98; transportation 99.",
    "Federal pandemic relief peaked at $64.6 million in 2021-22 and was $0 by 2024-25."
   ],
   "limitations": [
    "Program grouping is FactHub's; OSPI added or renumbered some codes during the period."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "growth-by-object",
   "title": "Where the increase went, by type of cost",
   "question": "How much of the growth was pay and benefits?",
   "operation": "Sum expenditures by F-196 object code; change and share of the total increase.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1 general fund.",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "group": "Certificated staff salaries (teachers and others)",
     "amount_2013_14": 273131347,
     "amount_2024_25": 519721722,
     "change": 246590375,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 42.2
    },
    {
     "group": "Employee benefits and payroll taxes",
     "amount_2013_14": 126904263,
     "amount_2024_25": 240895971,
     "change": 113991708,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 19.5
    },
    {
     "group": "Classified staff salaries (support staff)",
     "amount_2013_14": 105492161,
     "amount_2024_25": 218001654,
     "change": 112509493,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 19.3
    },
    {
     "group": "Purchased services",
     "amount_2013_14": 74411673,
     "amount_2024_25": 179233306,
     "change": 104821634,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 17.9
    },
    {
     "group": "Capital outlay",
     "amount_2013_14": 488403,
     "amount_2024_25": 3896870,
     "change": 3408466,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 0.6
    },
    {
     "group": "Supplies and materials",
     "amount_2013_14": 30319387,
     "amount_2024_25": 33463781,
     "change": 3144394,
     "share_of_increase_pct": 0.5
    },
    {
     "group": "Travel",
     "amount_2013_14": 935548,
     "amount_2024_25": 641761,
     "change": -293787,
     "share_of_increase_pct": -0.1
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "Salaries and benefits made up 81% of the increase: certificated salaries 42.2%, classified salaries 19.3%, benefits 19.5%. Purchased services added 17.9%.",
   "limitations": [
    "Object codes show what was bought, not why; they don't separate raises from added staff."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "revenue-by-source",
   "title": "General fund revenue by source",
   "question": "Where did the extra money come from?",
   "operation": "Sum revenue codes 1000-9000 (top-level categories) by year.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1 general fund, 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2024-25.",
   "resultShape": "table",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "source": "State general purpose (basic education formula)",
     "amount_2013_14": 267160237,
     "amount_2018_19": 493071159,
     "amount_2024_25": 569843061,
     "change_pct": 113.3
    },
    {
     "source": "State special purpose (special education and other programs)",
     "amount_2013_14": 82411632,
     "amount_2018_19": 158585002,
     "amount_2024_25": 231823132,
     "change_pct": 181.3
    },
    {
     "source": "Local taxes (mainly the school levy)",
     "amount_2013_14": 162644028,
     "amount_2018_19": 179782913,
     "amount_2024_25": 189422954,
     "change_pct": 16.5
    },
    {
     "source": "Other districts, agencies and financing",
     "amount_2013_14": 25515073,
     "amount_2018_19": 46790294,
     "amount_2024_25": 84945336,
     "change_pct": 232.9
    },
    {
     "source": "Federal special purpose (grants incl. pandemic aid)",
     "amount_2013_14": 48819942,
     "amount_2018_19": 44596508,
     "amount_2024_25": 67482369,
     "change_pct": 38.2
    },
    {
     "source": "Local non-tax (fees, donations, interest)",
     "amount_2013_14": 28211984,
     "amount_2018_19": 28977296,
     "amount_2024_25": 28564625,
     "change_pct": 1.2
    },
    {
     "source": "Federal general purpose",
     "amount_2013_14": 55325,
     "amount_2018_19": 14922,
     "amount_2024_25": 67267,
     "change_pct": 21.6
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "State general-purpose funding rose from $267.2 million to $569.8 million and state special-purpose funding from $82.4 million to $231.8 million. Local levy revenue rose 16%, from $162.6 million to $189.4 million, after dropping in 2018-19 and 2019-20.",
   "limitations": [
    "Other financing sources include interfund loans and transfers, which are not new revenue."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  },
  {
   "id": "operating-balance",
   "title": "Revenue minus spending by year",
   "question": "When did Seattle's general fund start spending more than it took in?",
   "operation": "Revenues and other financing sources minus expenditures; actuals from F-196, 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the adopted budget.",
   "scope": "Seattle School District No. 1 general fund, 2013-14 to 2026-27.",
   "resultShape": "timeSeries",
   "structuredResult": [
    {
     "school_year": "2013-14",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 3.1
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2014-15",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 12.9
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2015-16",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 13.1
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2016-17",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 16
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2017-18",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 20.6
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2018-19",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 38.1
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2019-20",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": -3.9
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2020-21",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": 37.4
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2021-22",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": -10.4
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2022-23",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": -41.6
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2023-24",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": -13
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2024-25",
     "basis": "Actual",
     "difference_millions": -23.7
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2025-26",
     "basis": "Budget",
     "difference_millions": -89.9
    },
    {
     "school_year": "2026-27",
     "basis": "Budget",
     "difference_millions": -21.2
    }
   ],
   "displayResult": "The general fund took in $38.1 million more than it spent in 2018-19. It spent $23.7 million more than it took in during 2024-25 and budgeted a $89.9 million shortfall for 2025-26 and $21.2 million for 2026-27.",
   "limitations": [
    "2025-26 and 2026-27 are budgets, not actuals.",
    "2024-25 other financing sources include an interfund loan; revenue alone fell $66.0 million short of spending."
   ],
   "executedAt": "2026-11-03T18:00:00Z"
  }
 ],
 "statements": [
  {
   "id": "pnwconservative-2026-10-31",
   "speaker": "PNW Conservative (@PNWConservative)",
   "speakerRole": "Anonymous political account on X",
   "date": "2026-10-31",
   "venue": "Post on X",
   "quote": "Seattle Public School Spending doubled, the class roster didn't. Olympia calls that underfunding. \n\n2014: $611M budget, 48,529 students.\n\n2025: $1.2B, 48,570 students.\n\nThe budget went up 96%. \n\nEnrollment went up 41 kids. \n\nAnd somehow the answer is a new income tax. \n\nYES on I-645.",
   "context": "The full text of the post, written the week before the November 2026 vote on Initiative 645, which would repeal Washington's new income tax on income over $1 million. It argues Seattle schools' spending growth shows a new income tax is not needed. It had about 2,000 views when read on November 3, 2026.",
   "claimType": "assertion",
   "sourceId": "x-pnwconservative"
  }
 ]
}