Governor Evers, State Superintendent Underly Release K-12 Funding Plan

 Governor Evers and State Superintendent Underly kicked off the new school year by announcing their K-12 funding priorities for the next state budget. The high-level plan would result in a $2 billion increase to K-12 education, including:

• $10 million for literacy-related programming. This work would focus on implementing evidence-based reading instructional practices. 

• $240 million for a permanent Get Kids Ahead student mental health program with the goal of making sure that all schools have one full-time staff person focused on mental health. 

• Provides an un-specified amount of funding for school nutrition services, including free meals to all students who qualify for free and reduced meals. 

• $5 million for a Do the Math Initiative to help districts start a financial literacy curriculum 

• $20 million for an Out-of-School Grant Program to increase access to community and school-based before and after school programming

• Making it easier for schools to rehire retired teachers to address staffing shortages 

• Increases revenue limits by $350 per pupil in 2022-23 and by $650 per pupil in 2023-24, along with $800 million to hold the line on property taxes

• Increases per pupil aid by $24 per pupil in 2022-23 and by $45 in 2023-24

• $750 million increase for special education aid, which would lead to a 60% reimbursement rate by the end of the biennium 

The Department of Public Instruction will release their full 2023-25 state budget request later this month.