In back-to-back state budget listening sessions, leaders in public education, board members seeking to move on from referendum dependency, and public school champions representing roles and districts across Wisconsin showed up in huge numbers to demand that the Joint Finance Committee deliver the budget Wisconsin kids deserve.

We have tracked public testimony at last week’s hearings in Kaukauna and West Allis and are unsurprised that meeting Wisconsin kids' needs (childcare and early childhood education, public pre-K-12, and higher education) has been by far the most common priority — followed by healthcare concerns. Overwhelming majorities of those testifying are doing so in favor of Gov. Evers’ education budget and delivering on the needs of Wisconsin kids. And with a $4 billion+ surplus sitting in Madison, the money is there to meet and exceed all of these expectations.

Notable testimony quotes:

"I have been teaching for 11 years, and every spring for 11 years, I have watched educators worry about their positions as our district makes difficult staffing decisions which often pit student need against funding viability. I have watched beloved courses and teachers be cut because of of a funding crisis outside of our district's control. We are one of the hundreds of school districts who have requested an operational referendum in the past 3 years and even though Greendale's community members passed this budgetary measure last year, we are still left trimming an already lean educational staff. As our state's funding of public education has fallen further and further behind inflation, we have been trying to accomplish more teaching and learning with less resources for the past decade and a half.

In the past 2 years, the University of Wisconsin and state legislature have agreed to cooperate in building a new engineering building at UW Madison. Next year, my high school will fail to offer our premiere engineering course for the first time since it was offered 12 years ago. Instead of supporting students in pursuit of their futures and responding to the needs of industries in Wisconsin. This course was cut with many others to reduce costs in order to balance a budget dependent on insufficient funding from the state.
- Zach Geiger, Greendale School District teacher

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"My 13-year-old son, Jack, was in elementary school when he received a referral for speech therapy and got his individualized education plan, or IEP. His speech impediment was starting to make him feel self-conscious at school, and we were thrilled that he was able to receive these needed therapy services during the school day. Jack’s weekly visits with his wonderful speech-language pathologist made a difference to his speech and confidence. But it came at a cost to our school district — a cost that is not sufficiently covered by state funding.

Approximately 14% of students in the Wauwatosa School District require special education services. They range from those who need speech therapy, like my son, to children who need significant support for profound special needs. Our school district is legally and morally obligated to provide these special education services, but the state’s abysmal reimbursement rate leads to a massive budget gap each year. That unfunded gap must come from other parts of the school district budget, which affects every student. The state’s chronic underfunding of our public schools led Wauwatosa to recently pass its first operating referendum — the only way to prevent devastating cuts to our beloved teaching staff and programming. Other school districts haven’t been so lucky."
- Nicole Etter, Wauwatosa School District parent & member of Support Our Schools Wauwatosa

News coverage:

• "Education funding takes center stage at West Allis state budget hearing" (Wisconsin Examiner)
• "'Education matters': Hundreds speak out on proposed state budget during Joint Finance Committee public hearing" (CBS 58)

We are grateful to the many, many public school champions who were able to show up in Kaukauna and West Allis to be a voice for Wisconsin kids.

There are two hearings left, and we all need to do our part to make sure public education continues to be the top priority heard by lawmakers.

It's not too late to add your voice and your story - see details below on the next budget hearings!

STATE BUDGET HEARINGS CONTINUE AT THE END OF APRIL!

HAYWARD
Monday, April 28, 2025
10am-5pm
Hayward High School Auditorium, 10320 Greenwood Lane, Hayward, WI 54843

WAUSAU
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Northcentral Technical College Center for Health Sciences, 1000 West Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401

Whether or not you can make it, written testimony can be delivered directly to the committee at any time this month. We recommend also sharing with your own lawmakers, as all legislators will ultimately vote on the budget bill, and CCing us so we can record and amplify your testimonies.

Also: don't miss opportunities to attend listening sessions of your own lawmakers to share your budget concerns. See a calendar of those here thanks to our friends at WECAN.

 

Federal & State Funding Informational Sessions from the DPI:

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly announced the launch of a new effort to help the public better understand how state, federal, and local funding directly impacts the state’s K-12 public schools and libraries.

Funding the Future: How Federal & State Dollars Impact Wisconsin’s School & Libraries is designed to offer the public a clearer view of the funding landscape in Wisconsin, and its influence on local public education. Through events scheduled throughout April, Dr. Underly and Department of Public Instruction staff will provide valuable insights into how funding at various levels affects schools and libraries. The sessions will allow attendees to ask questions and engage in discussions about the future of education funding in Wisconsin.

 

Thank you for all you do for Wisconsin students and their public schools!

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