Public Schools Week 2026 concluded with a clear message: FUND WISCONSIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Supporters of public schools from around the state–including parents, students, superintendents, school board members, and referenda team leaders–gathered in Madison to close out Public Schools Week by celebrating Wisconsin’s public schools and connecting the dots from local inadequacies and record number of school referenda to the failures of the last state budget to adequately meet kids’ needs. The passage of the 2025-2027 state budget cemented 18 consecutive years of state aid that has failed even to keep pace with inflation from the prior year, and the current budget provides an unprecedented $0 in new general aid for both years of the biennium.

Speakers included plaintiffs in the Fund Wisconsin Public Schools case (Wisconsin PTA, et.al. V. Wisconsin Assembly) filed last week in Eau Claire County, and others from around the state who share their concerns regarding the state legislature’s failure to adequately fund public schools.

Participants closed out Public Schools Week with a clear and unwavering message to lawmakers: "Do your job. Fund our public schools."

• Full video (our Facebook live feed)

Speakers:

• Heather DuBois Bourenane, Executive Director, Wisconsin Public Education Network* 
• Statement from Wisconsin PTA*
• James Lyerly, Green Bay Public School District*, School Board President
• Chris Hambuch-Boyle*, retired educator and former school board member (Eau Claire Area School District) and Wisconsin Public Education Network NW Regional Organizer
• Amiee Leavy, School District of Beloit*, School Board member
• Jeff Presley, Adams-Friendship School District*, School Board Treasurer
• Tanya Kotlowski, District Administrator, Necedah Area School District*
• Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, President, Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
• Shane McDonough*, Green Bay teacher and parent
• Martha Siravo, Madison School Board member and disability rights advocate, Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates
• Laurie J. Burgos, Ph.D., Superintendent, Shorewood School District
• Dylan Helmenstine, Wisconsin Heights School District,  School Board member
• Maha Kothinti, Ishaan Shukla, Tejasvi Nalluri, Anika Muchal, and Yahvi Kandenelli, Sun Prairie West High School students
  * Indicates representatives of plaintiffs named in Wisconsin PTA, et.al. V. Wisconsin Assembly

AMPLIFY THE ACTION!

Photos and Media Coverage:

• "Parents, educators file lawsuit against Wisconsin lawmakers over school funding" (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• "Public Schools Week culminates in gathering urging legislators to action at State Capitol" (WKOW 27)
• "Public school advocates gather at state capitol for 'Day of Action'" (CBS 58)
• "Education advocates call for adequate school funding from lawmakers" (Spectrum News 1)‍
• "Wisconsin public school teachers, students and advocates call for better funding" (KXII12)
• “Wisconsin public school teachers, students and advocates call for better funding” (WMTV 15)
• “Wisconsin schools, teachers file lawsuit against GOP-led Legislature seeking more funding” (Associated Press)
• “Wisconsin school funding unconstitutional according to lawsuit filed by teachers, parents, students”(Wisconsin Examiner)
• “Attorneys and ECASD discuss lawsuit against state legislature” (WEAU 13)
• “Wisconsin schools, teachers file lawsuit against GOP-led Legislature seeking more funding” (WISN 12 News)‍
• "Lawsuit filed against Wisconsin State Legislature over public school funding" (Civic Media)

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