PTA Budget
Each year, the Montlake PTA raises funds from our community to support Montlake Elementary.
A large portion of the PTA budget provides a staffing grant to the school, helping fund
positions or services that are not fully funded by Seattle Public Schools.
The staffing grant typically represents about 75–80% of the PTA budget. Funding may support
roles such as a specialist teacher, counselor support, playground supervision, or other school
operations needs.
In addition to staffing support, the PTA budget also funds student programs, community
fund, events, supplies, and school equipment.
We also collected feedback this year from our community. Read more about the results of that survey in our family survey blog post.
Who decides how the staffing grant is used?
The PTA Board sets the overall staffing grant amount, based on fundraising projections and
historical funding levels.
The Building Leadership Team (BLT) then determines how the funding is allocated within the
school budget. The BLT includes:
● School leadership
● Teachers and staff
● Parent/PTA representatives
The BLT develops the school’s full budget using both district funding and the PTA staffing
grant, and the final school budget is approved by a vote of the school’s union-represented staff.
When are decisions made?
January–February
● Families and staff are surveyed about school priorities.
● The PTA Board determines a proposed staffing grant amount.
● Seattle Public Schools provides preliminary school budget numbers after enrollment
closes.
March
● The BLT finalizes the school budget.
● The budget is approved by the school’s union staff.
● The PTA membership votes on the full PTA budget, including the staffing grant.
July and onward
● The PTA distributes the staffing grant to the school.
How can families provide input?
Families help guide priorities through PTA surveys and community feedback. Input from
families, staff, and teachers helps inform BLT discussions about how the staffing grant should
best support the school.
Should PTAs fund school staffing?
Practices vary across schools. Some PTAs choose not to fund staffing because it can contribute
to funding inequities between schools. However, Seattle Public Schools currently allows
PTA staffing support, and it has historically been part of Montlake PTA’s efforts to support
student learning and school operations.
What is the Community Fund?
The Montlake PTA is committed to supporting equity and inclusion within our school community.
As part of this commitment, we allocate 10% of the total Staffing Grant to the Community
Fund. This fund is dedicated to supporting families who may need additional assistance,
providing scholarships for afterschool programs, and contributing support to neighboring
schools within our community. By setting aside these resources, we aim to ensure that all
students have access to enriching opportunities and that our school community continues to
foster a culture of care, inclusion, and shared support.