The recent unveiling of the proposed State budget once again brings funding in K-12 public schools to the forefront of discussion. In recent years, school districts have been forced to do more with less, due to state-imposed "spending" limits. Twenty years ago, Wisconsin ranked 11th in the nation in terms of spending per student. Today that ranking has fallen to 25th. 

To better understand how this impacts education, it helps to have a small understanding of public-school funding (which can be a little complex). As the overall revenue limit has remained constant, the state has provided specific or “categorical” aid (increasing spending limits) for certain categories such as: special education, transportation, bilingual/bicultural, overall student enrollment, etc. Last fall, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction submitted a budget request of more than $2.5B in K-12 funding.

Although the spending limits are constant, where the resources come from is not as consistent. Over the years, the comparison of state funding to local funding varies with factors like property values, local referenda, and state aid formulas. 

"We have been in a decade or more of underfunding our schools and we see that through the number of referendum that have to take place, we see that through school boards having to make tough decisions every month at every meeting about what programs can continue, what can't," DPI Superintendent Jill Underly

Considering current inflation levels and declining student enrollment across the state, it is very challenging or nearly impossible to adequately support students within these limits. Even with state budget help, local communities are not satisfied and are passing referenda in record numbers; generally speaking, around 80% of districts are leaning on their community to support over 20% of their expenses. Somewhere around 650,000 students across the state are impacted by this funding discrepancy.

How long can communities be asked to provide additional support? The need to advance student achievement, improve facilities, and raise teacher compensation—isn’t going away. 

Upper 90 has been helping Wisconsin K-12 school districts with facilities and infrastructure improvements since 2016, many of which are achieved without a Referendum. Contact us today to learn more or ask your peers about Upper 90!