DPI budget proposal finally addresses the elephant in the room for K-12 education

Contact: Senator Chris Larson
T: (608) 266-7505
E: justin.bielinski@legis.wisconsin.gov

November 11, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MILWAUKEE, WI - Today, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly unveiled a key part of her K-12 education budget proposal for the next two years. Joining the call first made by educators and grassroots activists, Underly has proposed closing the shameful special ed funding gap between public schools and taxpayer-funded private schools.

By increasing special education reimbursement for public schools from 33% to 90% (the rate private voucher schools already receive) by Fiscal Year 2027, our public schools will be better able to meet their federally-mandated and morally required commitment to children with special needs without the need to raise property taxes or cut programs that benefit all students.

In the same election where a Republican won Wisconsin in the race for President, voters in 121 school districts approved 108 school referendum questions for a total of $3.4 billion - nearly 80% of the record $4.3 billion requested statewide.

Earlier this year, I presented data showing that the special education funding gap was at the heart of the rise in operational (i.e. non-building) referendums across Wisconsin. In several districts, the difference between actual special education costs and what was reimbursed by the state could account for the entirety of the dollars requested via operational referendum.

If the 90% reimbursement is passed, it will be better for property taxpayers, better for schools, and will greatly cut down on districts having to routinely go to referendums to make up for the state’s funding gap.

There’s no reason why a kid at a private school receiving public dollars should have 90% of their costs reimbursed by the state while the same kid at a public school - which have far greater levers of accountability than private schools - would only get 33%. 

I want to thank Superintendent Underly for making this bold yet necessary request for the next biennium. Having a well-educated state is not a partisan issue - it’s what every parent wants for their kids. In the end, our communities and our state’s future will be stronger if we make this investment now. With a $3.5 billion state surplus, there’s no excuse not to fulfill our end of the deal.

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