The Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) expresses its disappointment regarding the failure of state leadership to pass the proposed $1.8 billion budget repair bill. This legislation would have offered support for the state’s public schools, specifically through necessary investments in special education.

Across Wisconsin, rural districts are grappling with financial pressures caused by escalating costs and a lack of adequate state funding. As student needs grow, the absence of significant investment forces our districts into difficult choices that jeopardize educational quality and increase the burden on local taxpayers.

While a surplus deal is an important resource for schools facing declining state investment, it is not a comprehensive solution. Wisconsin is now graduating its fourth consecutive senior class that has not experienced a system receiving inflationary increase in spendable resources during their entire Pre K–12 education.

Wisconsin’s rural schools are working tirelessly to support their students and communities. The failure to enact this legislation is a lost opportunity to provide the approved 42% in the biennial budget and additional special education funding resources to public education statewide.

WiRSA calls upon state leaders to resume negotiations and pursue a bipartisan agreement that prioritizes the needs of students and educators, and Wisconsin’s rural communities.