Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance - Representing the Interests of Wisconsin Students

State Budget Update

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 10, 2023

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has announced the statewide budget hearings (see post). The Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s (LFB) summary of Governor Evers’ State Budget proposal will be released shortly. After which JFC will conduct state agency briefings before holding statewide public hearings. We will follow up with a separate post on coordinating SAA member testimony at the JFC budget hearings.

As the 2023-25 State Budget process begins to pick up speed, I would like to thank all those SAA members that have already begun conversations with their legislators regarding the Governor’s budget recommendations. For those that have yet to communicate with their legislators, talking points are attached to assist with your conversation. To be successful on this state budget, SAA members in every school district must contact their legislators repeatedly throughout the long budget process.

I suggest that each district leadership team, behind the leadership of the superintendent and business manager, develop your district message and craft your plan for influencing your parents, your staff, your community, your media and your lawmakers — and then coordinate the delivery of that message. With frozen revenue limits and a looming fiscal cliff this budget will be vitally important for your school district and the children you serve. It is critically important for you to reach out to your legislators and your community.

Attached are talking points to aid in your communications and help prepare you for conversations with your legislators and community which cover the following:

Consider inviting your legislators to your school(s). Use the opportunity to show them some of the great educational opportunities afforded to the children in your district. Show them what learning looks like today in your district.
Discuss your district’s spending of ESSER dollars. Some legislators have openly expressed the opinion that, because of this one-time federal aid, public schools in Wisconsin didn’t need ongoing support in the 2021-23 state budget. Due to the lack of state funding were you forced to use one time federal funding for ongoing operational expenses?
Express your strong support for the Governor’s proposal to increase the level of special education aid to reimburse aidable costs in a meaningful way. Wisconsin school districts collectively transfer over $1 billion annually from district general funds to cover the funding gap between required special education costs and current state funding. Explain your district’s “general fund to special education fund” annual transfer and how significant increases in special education aid can help meet the needs of all students in your district.
Express your strong support for a per pupil general revenue increase in each year of the biennium. Explain the importance of these increases in per pupil revenues in both fiscal and human terms. Emphasize the impact on educational opportunities for your students.
Tell your district’s story. Talk about your student population. Your legislators need to hear it.
Encourage your legislators to stand up for the children you serve.
Thank them for listening and for serving the citizens of Wisconsin.

Legislators may be proactively reaching out to you for information, if not, I encourage you to reach out to the members of the Joint Finance Committee and your legislators as soon as possible. Many SAA members prefer sending letters or emails to their legislators. Some members have found that their legislators prefer phone conversations. In the past some members have even produced videos to advocate for the needs of their students. All these methods work great. All I ask is that you copy your written or video communications to the SAA so we can post them as examples for your colleagues.

I know many of you have already discussed these issues with your legislators, and I thank you. For your convenience, I have provided links to the Senate Directory, the Assembly Directory and Who Are My Legislators.

Thanks for your attention, and for all your efforts on behalf of the children you serve.

Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »

JFC Announces Budget Listening Sessions

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 8, 2023

From The Wheeler Report:

The Joint Finance Committee announced four public hearings on the 2023-25 State Budget. The public hearing schedule is:

10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 5- Waukesha

Waukesha County Expo Center, Main Arena

1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha

10 am – 5 pm: Tuesday, April 11– Eau Claire

UW-Eau Claire, Davies Student Center

Ojibwe Grand Ballroom (Third Floor)

77 Roosevelt Ave., Eau Claire

10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 12– Wisconsin Dells

Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Conference Center

Sandstone Meeting Room

45 Hillman Road, Wisconsin Dells

10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 26– Minocqua

Lakeland Union High School

9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua

Additional information from SAA, including budget talking points, is forthcoming.

Additionally, Wisconsinites may access the online portal to submit testimony which will be circulated to all 16 committee members : https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/ as well as a dedicated email address: budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov

Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »

Legislative Alert – Education Hearing on 3/2/23

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 28, 2023

On March 2^nd there will be a joint informational hearing of the Senate and Assembly Education committees on the subject of reading. The informational hearing will take testimony from invited speakers only beginning at 10:00am at the state Capitol in room 412 East. The notice for the informational hearing and the list of speakers is available here. Coverage of the informational hearing will air on Wiseye.org.

The Assembly Education Committee has issued a notice that it will hold a public hearing on Assembly Bill 53 following the conclusion of the informational hearing. The Governor previously vetoed this bill last session (2022 Senate Bill 585). His veto message can be found here. The Assembly Education Committee will also take public testimony on Assembly Bill 69, which was just recently introduced.

Legislative Reference Bureau Analysist of AB 53:

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, this bill requires public high schools and private high schools participating in a parental choice program to collect statistics on violations of municipal disorderly conduct ordinances and certain crimes, including homicide, sexual assault, burglary, battery, and arson, that occur on school property or on transportation provided by the school. The high school must collect statistics about the crime or disorderly conduct only if 1) it occurred on a weekday between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.; 2) it is reported to law enforcement; and 3) a charge is filed or citation is issued. The bill further requires that the collected statistics be reported to the Department of Public Instruction and included on the annual school and school district accountability report. Finally, the bill clarifies that DPI may not consider crimes statistics reported by a school or school district for purposes of determining a school or school district’s performance on the annual school and school district accountability report.

Legislative Reference Bureau Analysis of AB 69:

This bill requires each public school, including a charter school, to report any incident that occurs in a school building or on school grounds to local law enforcement. The bill provides that, if 100 or more incidents occur in and on public school buildings and grounds during a school semester, and at least 25 of those incidents result in an arrest, the school must, no later than the first day of the next school year, employ or contract for the employment of a law enforcement officer as an armed school resource officer (SRO) to work at the school. Under the bill, “incident” is a defined term that includes violations of state and municipal disorderly conduct laws and certain crimes, including homicide, sexual assault, burglary, battery, and arson. However, the bill provides that, for purposes of counting the number of incidents that resulted in arrest, “incident” does not include incidents related to use or possession of alcohol, cigarettes, nicotine, tobacco products, or vaping devices.

The bill also requires the Department of Public Instruction to reimburse a school board or the operator of an independent charter school that begins employing or enters into a new contract for the employment of a law enforcement officer as an armed SRO all of the following amounts: 1) 75 percent of the costs associated with the SRO for the 2023-24 school year; 2) 50 percent of the costs associated with the SRO for the 2024-25 school year; and 3) 25 percent of the costs associated with the SRO for the 2025-26 school year. Under the bill, the governor must allocate money received by the state under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to reimburse DPI for these payments to school boards and independent charter school operators.

Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »

Governor Evers Announces 2023-25 Education Budget Initiatives

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 14, 2023

Governor Evers announced the following K-12 Education initiatives will be included in his 2023-25 budget proposal. The Governor will formally introduce his budget Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 6:30. The budget address will stream live on wiseye.org.

The summary of initiatives published by The Wheeler Report is below:

K-12 BUDGET INITIATIVES

According to the release, “In total the governor’s 202325 biennial budget will provide an increase of more than $2.6 billion for public schools, including the second largest proposed direct investment in state general aids since the 1995-97 biennium, the largest per pupil adjustments since revenue limits were imposed, and a historic investment in special education.”

Overall Investment:

$1 billion over the biennium through the state’s general equalization aid formula, the second largest proposed direct investment in state general aids since the 1995-97 biennium.
A more than $1 billion increase in special education aid over the biennium, which would increase reimbursement rates to 60 percent in both years of the biennium.
Granting districts a sizable increase in revenue-raising authority, with per pupil revenue limit increases of $350 in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 and an additional $650 in FY 2024-25—the largest per pupil adjustments since revenue limits were imposed.
A low revenue ceiling increase of $450 per pupil in FY 2023-24 and an additional $750 per pupil in FY 2024-25, increasing revenue limit equity among school districts.
A combined increase of $1,000 per pupil over the biennium while keeping the estimated gross school levy increase below one percent on a statewide basis in both fiscal years.
A per pupil aid investment of $46.5 million over the biennium, resulting in a $24 per pupil increase in FY 2023-24 and an additional $45 per pupil in FY 2024-25.
Per pupil payment increases of $374 in FY 2023-24 and another $695 in FY 2024-25 for independent charter schools and schools participating in a parental choice or special needs scholarship program. These increases are commensurate with the increased spending power provided to public school districts through revenue limit adjustments and per pupil aid increases.
Freeze enrollment in schools participating in a parental choice program for school year 2024-25 at year 2023-24 enrollments, allowing families continued access to private schools while affirming the state’s commitment to robust funding for Wisconsin’s excellent public schools.

Special Education:

Providing a more than $1 billion investment in special education aid, reaching 60 percent in both years of the biennium and going beyond his fall proposal with a historic and critical investment of $491.4 million in FY 2023-24 and $521.7 million in FY 2024-25; and
Investing $1.6 million in FY 2023-24 and $5.9 million in FY 2024-25 to increase high-cost special education reimbursements, increasing the reimbursement rate from around 30% today to 60 percent at the end of the biennium.

“Get Kids Ahead” Initiative:

$117.9 million per year to continue the “Get Kids Ahead” initiative, providing per pupil payments instead of competitive grants;
$18 million per year to reimburse schools for costs around an expanded list of school mental health professionals; and
$580,000 per year for staff training on evidence-based strategies.
Additionally, the governor’s investment will provide $3.6 million in FY 2023-24 and $7.3 million in FY 2024-25 to allow schools to receive Medicaid reimbursement for telehealth origination costs.

Increased Medicaid Support:

Recommending modifying Medicaid school-based services to allow participating school districts to retain 100 percent of the federal funding received for those services as opposed to the 60 percent share they currently receive. This will result in school districts receiving an estimated additional $112 million of federal funding over the biennium.

Health Meals, Health Kids:

Creating theHealthy Meals, Healthy Kids program, an initiative aimed at improving student health and reducing hunger by investing $120.2 million in FY 2024-25 to fully fund school breakfasts and lunches for all children;
Providing $4.3 million in FY 2023-24 and $4.7 million in FY 2024-25 to increase the school breakfast reimbursement rate to 15 cents per meal and extending eligibility for the reimbursement to independent charter schools and state residential schools operated by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI); and
Incentivizing schools to support Wisconsin farmers, food producers, and local economies by providing $2.75 million in FY 2024-25 for an enhanced 10 cents reimbursement per meal for those including locally sourced foods.

Literacy and Improving Reading Outcomes:

$10 million per year to fund comprehensive training for 28 new coaches in literacy and 28 new professionals in early reading instruction practices, designed to focus on school reading instruction improvement and early childhood; and
$4.9 million over the biennium to engage multiple stakeholders and strategies, including:
- $1.4 million for The Literacy Lab;
- $3 million for the Wisconsin Reading Corps; and
- $500,000 for Reach out and Read.
This budget also provides $742,500 per year for Wisconsin Literacy to conduct adult literacy activities, including expert trainings, personalized consultations, and workforce connections.

Financial Literacy, Mathematics, and Computer Science:

Introducing a new “Do the Math” personal finance initiative, allocating $2.5 million per year to help schools start or improve programs around financial literacy curriculum and innovative instruction practices; and
Providing $10 million in FY 2024-25 to the Milwaukee Math Partnership, a collaboration among the Milwaukee Public Schools district, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Area Technical College focused on the implementation of mathematics curriculum and professional development for current and aspiring Milwaukee teachers.
Funding a statewide computer science education coordinator through DPI, allocating $20,000 in FY 2024-25 for a computer science education task force, and providing $5 million annually for grants to school districts to access computer science curriculum, particularly around programming concepts and professional development; and
Creating a statutory requirement that each Wisconsin high school provide at least one computer science course.

Supporting English Learners:

$8.2 million in FY 2023-24 and $14.2 million in 2024-25 to increase reimbursement of costs for schools with higher concentrations of English Learners from 7.9 percent to 20 percent by the end of the biennium; and
More than $25.9 million per year for a new Aid for English Language Acquisition program and $310,500 over the biennium to formalize the process for Wisconsin English learners to earn a Seal of Biliteracy and support districts that assist students in achieving this seal.

Teacher Workforce:

$5 million in FY 2024-25 for grants to support “grow your own” educator programming, which may include providing current employees with funding to pursue additional higher education credits, licenses, or certifications, engaging with community organizations, and supporting student organizations with “future teacher” missions; and
$9.4 million in FY 2024-25 to provide stipends to student teachers and interns, $2 million in FY 2024-25 to provide stipends to teachers who agree to train and oversee student teachers or interns, and $50,000 in FY 2024-25 for stipends to school library interns.
Proposing to authorize state agencies and local units of government, including schools, to rehire a retired annuitant teacher under certain circumstances to address workforce recruitment and retention issues. This will make it easier to hire experienced educators and staff.

Supporting Tribal Partners:

Proposes $24,100 in FY 2023-24 and $49,400 in FY 2024-25 to increase Wisconsin Grants for Tribal college students by 5 percent in the first year and another 5 percent in the second year.
Invests $200,000 per year for a grant program administered by DPI to reimburse expenses incurred by school districts that choose to change race-based mascots and logos.

Additional Student Supports:

Out-of-School Programming:provides supports for students before, during, and after school by investing $20 million in FY 2024-25 for out-of-school time grants, enhancing offerings from schools and communities to help kids avoid risky and dangerous behaviors, keep kids engaged in their coursework, and provide homework assistance. This budget also provides $2 million per year to Graduation Alliance, which works to reengage students at risk of not finishing high school.
Driver’s Education: provides $6.5 million in FY 2024-25 to subsidize the cost of providing driver’s education to economically disadvantaged students. This provision was also announced as part of the governor’s initiatives to address reckless driving.
Career and Postsecondary Opportunities:provides $500,000 in FY 2024-25 to pay General Education Development testing costs and increase high school equivalency attainment to open doors for employment and postsecondary opportunities. In addition, this budget provides $704,000 over the biennium to continue support for contract costs related to academic and career planning for pupils in grades 6-12.
Prevent Opioid Overdoses:establishes a requirement that every school in Wisconsin have opioid antagonists, such as naloxone and naltrexone, on hand in the event of a suspected opioid drug overdose.
Encouraging Family and Outdoor Engagement:provides $243,600 per year to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to provide fee waivers for annual admissions receipts to state parks for the families of fourth-grade students, aligning state parks with the national Every Kid Outdoors program.