Local level action, statewide impact. Let’s come together to make sure our state budget meets our kids’ urgent needs and provides every child in every public school equal opportunity to succeed!
Where are we now in the budget process? See below for details & resources!
The Governor’s budget has been introduced and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau has delivered its review of that budget. State agency hearings on specific parts of the budget are up next, followed by public hearings before the Joint Finance Committee. The Department of Public instruction will deliver its testimony on April 6 at 10am. Public hearings will be held April (Whitewater), April 21 (Rhinelander), April 22 (Menomonie), and April 28 (virtual). REGISTRATION FOR THE VIRTUAL HEARING will go live at 10am on Monday April 19 for the first 200 people who register. We expect it to fill up FAST so set a reminder to be online and register here if you plan to testify at that virtual hearing: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/virtual/
Note: we are holding a press event with local/regional speakers at each of the hearing dates. If you’re testifying in person, please come join us!
Testimony can also be sent by email to budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov or submitted online at www.legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments.
If you want to connect with us at an in-person or virtual hearing, please fill out this form. To share your testimony with others and amplify your impact, please email your testimony to hdb@WisconsinNetwork.org.
BUDGET PRIORITIES
Click here for our one-pager of budget priorities and testimony tips!


- FUND PRIORITY NEEDS FIRST to meet the needs of every student and close the opportunity gaps for Black and brown students, students in poverty, students with disabilities and English learners.
- Restore special education reimbursement to 60% (see the Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis of the special education reimbursement proposal in Governor Evers’s budget here)
- Mental health support on a per-pupil system
- English Language Learner (ELL) aid
- Funding for rural needs, including broadband and transportation
- Funding for COVID-related needs and a school nurse in every public school
- FUNDING SHOULD BE ADEQUATE, SUFFICIENT, EQUITABLE, PREDICTABLE, AND FAIR. This means increasing per-pupil funding at least by an inflationary level.
- ADDRESS WISCONSIN’S TEACHER CRISIS responsibly by providing funds for retention, recruitment, and “grow your own” educator programs.
- MORATORIUM on funding for private and privately-operated schools that drain resources from public schools held fully accountable to taxpayers through elected school boards.
- Funding should invest in closing Wisconsin’s gaps. A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT INVEST IN CLOSING OUR GAPS INVESTS IN MAKING THEM EVEN WIDER.
ABOUT THE 2021-2023 STATE BUDGET

Governor Evers’ Budget proposal (introduced 2/16/21):
- Budget in Brief (education starts on page 72): http://www.thewheelerreport.com/…/0212621budgetinbrief.pdf
- Full budget document (Dept of Public Instruction starts on page 489)
- WPEN response (press release)
- Overview: Half of Evers’ proposed $3.2B budget increase slated for K-12 education (WisPolitics)
Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s budget analysis:
- LFB Fiscal Analyst: Impact of Increased Special Education Reimbursement Proposal
- Summary of Governor’s Budget Recommendations – March, 2021 (by Agency)
Summary Document and summary tables:
- Summary of Governor’s Budget Recommendations – March, 2021 (Summary Tables)
- Summary of Governor’s Budget Recommendations – March, 2021 (Entire Document)
Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Budget Proposal (submitted by State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor to Gov. Tony Evers, Nov. 2020)
DPI summaries (one-pagers) on specific budget proposal items:
Mental Health & Student Wellness
Summaries and reactions to DPI budget proposal:
- Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC): Proposed budget calls for $1.4 billion increase
- School Administrators Alliance (SAA): DPI Seeks $1.4 Billion Increase in Budget Request
- Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB): DPI submits 2021-2023 budget request for schools
- Survivor Coalition Supports Proposed DPI Biennial Budget Investments in Students With Disabilities
SPEAK UP FOR KIDS
Joint Finance Committee Public Hearings
Budget testimony can be submitted in person at hearings, at the virtual hearing, in writing or by video. Official legislative hearings on the state budget will be held on the following dates:
- Friday, April 9, 2021 UW-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI
- FULL VIDEO of testimony on WisconsinEye — paid subscription now required
- Wisconsin Public Education Network press conference alongside ACLU of Wisconsin, Coalition for a Just Budget, Fair Maps Coalition, and other partners:
- full video on Facebook;
- Executive Director Heather DuBois Bourenane’s opening remarks, filmed by Wisconsin Education Association Council Director of Public Affairs Christina Brey
- Wednesday, April 21, 2021 The Hodag Dome, Rhinelander, WI
- Thursday, April 22, 2021 UW-Stout, Menomonie, WI
- Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Virtual. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 200 PEOPLE who register at https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/virtual/ starting Monday, April 19 at 10 am.
- Email written or video testimony to budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov
- Online submission portal: www.legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments
From the JFC chairs: “The public hearings will begin at 10 am and conclude at 5 pm. The format will be similar to past hearings. Management at each of the venues will monitor capacity. Those wishing to testify at the virtual hearing will be required to register in advance, details to come on the registration process. A portal is available for individuals to provide input: www.legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments as well as an email address budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov .”

DON’T JUST SPEAK UP….BE HEARD! We strongly encourage you to amplify your voice by sharing your testimony with members of the Joint Finance Committee, your own legislators, and your community.
Governor Evers will hold a series of “Badger Bounceback” live listening sessions on the budget March and April. The session on education is the Badger Bounceback Live Session on What’s Best for Our Kids and will take place Thurs., April 8, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
- Thurs., March 18, 2021, at 6 p.m. Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Live Session on Economic Recovery & Opportunity. Register to attend here.
- Thurs., March 25, 2021 at 6 p.m. Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Live Session on Accessible & Affordable Healthcare. Register to attend here.
- Tues., March 30, 2021, at 6 p.m. Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Live Session on Transportation & Infrastructure. Register to attend here.
- Thurs., April 8, 2021, at 6 p.m. Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Live Session on What’s Best for Our Kids Register to attend here.
- Wed., April 14, 2021, at 6 p.m. Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Live Session on Justice Reform & Marijuana Legalization Register to attend here.
- Wed., April 21, 2021, at 6 p.m. Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Live Session on Climate Change & Our Environment Register to attend here.
2021 WISCONSIN JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), Co-Chair
- Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), Co-Chair
- Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville), Vice Chair
- Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton), Vice Chair
- Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)
- Sen. Mary Felzowski (R-Irma)
- Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan)
- Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls)
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point)
- Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee)
- Rep. Terry Katsma (R-Oostburg)
- Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls)
- Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek)
- Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc)
- Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee)
- Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine)
Our friends at the ACLU of Wisconsin have put together a helpful document of this year’s JFC members along with their photos and social media handles. See that here!
[NE Regional Opportunity] State Sen. André Jacques (R-De Pere) is hosting a series of listening sessions in the district on the budget and other legislative issues from April 9 to April 23: Press release with details here.
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Friday, March 19, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), State Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and State Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) held a budget listening session in Belmont.
The Assembly Democrats also scheduled a series of virtual “Budget Action Meetings” throughout the month of March. According to the organizers, “The goals for each meeting are to 1) Highlight our members’ work and educate people about what is in the Badger Bounceback Budget, 2) Inspire people to participate in the budget process and take one concrete action, and 3) Provide ways to connect with partner groups about ongoing budget organizing. ” The schedule for the upcoming meetings is as follows:
- March 3 at 7pm: Criminal Justice Reform and Democracy
- March 10 at 7pm: Education, Childcare and Higher Education
- March 17 at 7pm: Healthcare
- March 24 at 7pm: Climate, Environment and Equal Rights
- March 31 at 7pm: Economy and Infrastructure
You can learn more about the effort at ForwardWisc.com. For more information contact Rep. Goyke at evan.goyke@legis.wisconsin.gov and Rep. Neubauer at greta.neubauer@legis.wisconsin.gov.
Governor Evers and Lt. Gov. Barnes held “People’s Budget Listening Sessions in Nov-Dec 2020. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND LINKS TO RECORDINGS.
- Budget Listening Session on Healthcare and Public Health
Tuesday, November 17 at 6 p.m. - Budget Listening Session on Environment, Infrastructure, and the Economy
Wednesday, December 2 at 6 p.m. - Budget Listening Session on Criminal Justice Reform
Tuesday, December 8 at 6 p.m. - Budget Listening Session on Our Schools and Education
Wednesday, December 16 at 6 p.m.- There were at least 490 people in attendance, and the majority shared our concerns about meeting students’ needs. We heard a lot of support for special education funding, addressing Wisconsin’s teacher shortage, bilingual education needs, mental health, school nursing, early childhood funding, nutrition and more — including a number of people who were well-organized to speak in favor of additional charter spending.
- CLICK HERE to see the recording on Wisconsin Eye
Gov. Evers’ People’s Maps Commission Hearings
Wisconsin’s legislative districts will be redrawn in 2021 following the publication of the 2020 US Census. Hearings on this process began in fall 2020, and the public is urged to submit testimony at the live virtual hearings or submit written comments here.
TAKE LOCAL ACTION!
UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS:
CLOSING THE GAPS Workshop Series Resource Archives:
- School Board Matters, Jan. 27, 2021: video, powerpoint, shared notes doc.
- School Funding 101 with Dr. Julie Underwood, Feb. 11, 2021: video, slide deck.
- School Funding 102 with Bob Soldner, DPI and Dr. Julie Underwood, Feb. 25, 2021: video, slide deck, one-page school finance resource
- Letter to the Editor and Op-Ed Workshop with Matt Rothschild, March 4, 2021: video and folder of resources & tips. Click here for sample letters to the editor on the 2021-2023 budget (note: this file is updated with new letters as they’re shared with us – send yours to hdb@WisconsinNetwork.org to add it to the list!)
- Biennium Budget Breakdown with State Budget Director Brian Pahnke, March 16, 2021: video.
First Budget Action Workshop with the Wisconsin Public Education Network and the ACLU of Wisconsin: Saturday, January 23. If you missed the Workshop, would like to review the materials, or wish to share them with others, you can find everything you need here (and archived on our Budget HQ page):
- Budget Action Workshop Participant Guide (includes agenda, budget overview, organizing readings, and regularly updated budget resources)
- Printable worksheets for Small Group Storytelling Breakouts
- Budget Action Workshop PowerPoint presentation (pdf)
- Video of Jan. 23 Budget Action Workshop [note: video starts recording about 10 minutes into event]NOTE: We welcome you to use these resources to hold your own nonpartisan advocacy workshops or training events, provided that all of our materials are fully credited and distributed free of charge. If you’d like support in holding a local training or Budget Action Workshop, please contact Heather at hdb@WisconsinNetwork.org, or your Wisconsin Public Education Network regional organizer!
Second Budget Action Workshop with the Wisconsin Public Education Network and the ACLU of Wisconsin: Saturday, February 20. We unpacked Governor Evers’s newly-released state budget and started our local action planning. Archive:
Our communities face mounting challenges and critical needs as we adjust to schooling during a global pandemic. It’s never been more important to stand united to ensure our public schools have the resources they need to thrive. Let your community know what’s at stake for local students in the 2021-2023 state budget!
Join Wisconsin Public Education Network partners around the state to take action where YOU live to make a positive difference.
Wisconsin’s children are counting on us!