Legislative Update

In a joint statement, WiRSA, SAA, WASB, and SAA issued this press release
the day after JFC acted on our education budget.

Underwhelming investment in public education

• According to a Marquette Law School poll conducted in February, a majority (76%) of Wisconsin registered voters favor a major increase in funding for special education in the schools. Majorities of all partisan groups favor increasing special education budgets, with 59% of Republicans, 72% of independents, and 97% of Democrats in favor.

Let’s reflect on a small portion of the incredible advocacy
leading up to JFC’s underwhelming investment in public education.

Prior to April.

• November 2024 - State Superintendent Jill Underly -  budget proposal - The single most powerful thing we can do in the next state budget is close the special education funding gap. Wisconsin is already covering them. Forcing districts to fill in the gaps by using general funds that would otherwise be used to cover essential teaching and learning costs.
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• December 13, 2024 - Ruth Conniff from the Wisconsin Examiner, in her commentary, Blaming schools deflects attention from the real problem - points out: To understand why school districts are begging local taxpayers for money at the same time Republicans claim they gave schools a “historic increase,” take a look at how little of that $1.2 billion in “education spending” actually went to schools.

  • There, under the heading “school levy tax credit” you will find the missing $590 million in so-called school funding, in the form of a rebate to property taxpayers. Schools never get to touch that money. It is an oddity of Wisconsin law that the school levy tax credit is labeled as school funding.

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• Stakeholders Budget Priorities - WiRSA Budget Priorities - SAAs Budget Priorities - WASBs Budget Priorities - SWSAs Budget Priorities

  • All stakeholders focused on a minimum 60% reimbursement of aidable costs for special education programming. This would strike a balance by providing flexible, spendable revenue for all school districts, ensuring they have adequate resources to support students with special needs. Special education funding should be structured as "sum sufficient." This shift would allow school districts to be more responsive to fluctuating demands and costs.

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• POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS from Anne Chapman - WASBO Research Director - As advocacy efforts for the 2025-27 state budget heat up, we hope this article serves as a useful reference to educate your school board, staff, legislators, and community on your district’s financial condition; how it affects your students and families; and the state’s role in addressing these problems.

  • School referendums are sending a clear message. Will Wisconsin lawmakers hear it?

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• January 22, 2025 - Gov. Evers Press Release - State of the State Address Gov. Evers Declares 2025 the Year of the Kid: “If We Want to Improve Our Kids’ Outcomes, Then We Have to Shorten the Odds”

  • Gov. Evers announced his 2025-27 Executive Budget will include efforts to invest in and support Wisconsin’s kids both in and out of the classroom, including: making ‘historic’ investments in K-12 education and investing in public education at every level, from early childhood to the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System; Investing in comprehensive mental and behavioral healthcare in schools; addressing lead contamination in schools and communities statewide; providing school breakfast and lunch to Wisconsin’s kids at no cost; supporting Wisconsin’s child care industry by continuing the successful Child Care Counts Program to ensure access to reliable, affordable child care for working families; and working to keep Wisconsin’s kids, families, schools, and communities safe by reducing crime and preventing gun violence statewide. 

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• State superintendent applauds Gov. Evers’ budget proposal, investment in public education and libraries

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Beginning in April!

FOUR Joint Finance Budget Hearings!

• JFC Public Hearing - Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - Kaukauna High School

• JFC Public Hearing - Friday, April 4, 2025 - Wisconsin State Fair Park, Exposition Center

• WISCONSIN EXAMINER - Education funding takes center stage at West Allis state budget hearing

• Wisconsin - Wisconsin K-12 education head continues push for increased funding

• Northwestern - Institute for Policy Research - The Benefits of Increased School Spending

• JFC Public Hearing - Monday, April 28, 2025 - Hayward High School Auditorium

• JFCD Public Hearing - Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - Northcentral Technical College, Center for Health Sciences

• May 8, 2025 - WISCONSIN EXAMINER - State special education funding in the spotlight with federal support in flux

• May 9, 2025 - WISCONSIN EXAMINER - Joint Finance Committee eliminates over 600 items from Evers’ budget proposal

• JUNE 12, 2025 - Dept. of Public Instruction: State Superintendent Dr. Underly calls for bold, lasting investment in Wisconsin's public schools

Thursday, June 12, 2025 – PM - EXECUTIVE ACTION BY JOINT FINANCE ON THE BUDGET

The Joint Committee on Finance, led by Senator Howard Marklein (R–Spring Green) and Representative Mark Born (R–Beaver Dam), approved an omnibus motion outlining their proposed budget for K-12 education aids.

The proposal suggests a slight rise in the special education reimbursement rate—increasing to 35% in 2025-26 and 37.5% in 2026-27. This is NOT sum sufficient. This comes despite a Marquette Law School Poll indicating 76% of participants favored boosting funding for Special Education Aid.

The Budget offers no increase in general school aids, which total $325.

The increase in per-pupil revenue limits will be fully supported by local property taxes. Furthermore, the proposal does not feature any rise in per pupil aid and only offers slight increases in mental health, transportation, and sparsity aids.

The committee decided to extend High-Cost Special Education Aid as a partial response to the growing demand for enhanced general special education funding. According to the proposal, High-Cost Special Education Aid will be financed at levels sufficient to cover 50% reimbursement in 2025-26 and 90% in 2026-27.

In an unprecedented move, the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee invested zero dollars in state general school aid. Under the GOP plan, property taxpayers could see their taxes go up by $600 million.

Let’s take a moment to consider: what were the dominant messages directed at our legislators in Joint Finance?
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We need your voice—now more than ever!
The majority party’s education budget proposal:

• Provides no increase in General School Aid

• Shifts the cost burden entirely to local property taxpayers

• Undercuts broad-based special education support

Additionally, this proposal increases local property taxes, contradicting the majority party’s public commitments.

• General/Equalization Aid: No increase.

• Revenue Limits: $325 per pupil increase annually, but funded entirely by local property taxes.

• Special Education Categorical Aid: $229 million over the biennium—reaching 35% reimbursement in FY26 and 37.5% in FY27 (currently 30.6%).

• High-Cost Special Education Aid: $54.6 million—50% reimbursement in FY26, 90% in FY27 (currently ~25.9%).

• Mental Health Services: Net reduction of $10 million for school-based services.

Action Steps!

Contact your legislators (find yours here) and send a copy of your message to the Governor’s Office (govinfo@wisconsin.gov).

Underwhelming investment in public education