Fast Paced Assembly Proposals
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 5, 2025
The Assembly Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on a package of bills addressing voucher eligibility, student discipline, and mathematics instruction. The math proposal mirrors the structure of Act 20’s literacy overhaul, but does not include any funding to support implementation, and creates more questions than it provides answers. The student discipline and math bills were highlighted as central K-12 priorities for Speaker Robin Vos and Assembly Republicans during their September press event. The disability rights community has swiftly responded with strong opposition to those proposals for not recognizing the needs of our students with special needs.
These proposals appear to be laying the groundwork for the Assembly GOP’s education platform heading into the 2026 election cycle. At this point, none of the bills list Democratic co-sponsors, and it remains uncertain whether the Senate plans to advance them, suggesting limited bipartisan momentum.
The Assembly is moving quickly, and SAA will provide detailed talking points and bill analysis shortly. At a high level, these proposals do not address the primary challenges district leaders are confronting—including workforce shortages, rising student needs, and insufficient school funding. Stakeholder organizations are actively coordinating on messaging and strategy.
We anticipate another busy week of Assembly hearings next week, including anticipated consolidation-related proposals, while the Senate appears to be taking a more measured approach. This allows additional time to refine analysis and member advocacy guidance. Please watch for further updates and talking points as these bills are likely to advance rapidly to the Assembly floor.
The public hearing details are below:
Thursday, November 6, 2025
10:01 AM
417 North (GAR Hall)
Relating to: pupil eligibility for parental choice programs based upon participation by a sibling or a dependent child of the pupil’s parent or guardian.
By Representatives Duchow, Brill, Dittrich, Donovan, Goeben, B. Jacobson, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, O’Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Steffen, Tusler and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Jagler, Nass, Quinn and Kapenga.
Relating to: notifying parents if a pupil is removed from the classroom.
By Representatives Goeben, Knodl, Murphy, Gustafson, O’Connor, Tittl, Gundrum, Behnke, Brill, Kreibich and Mursau; cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Nass.
Relating to: a teacher’s authority to manage the teacher’s class, parental notification of disruptive or violent behavior at school, and a school district’s code of conduct.
By Representatives Goeben, Penterman, Wichgers, Gundrum, Knodl, Murphy, Gustafson, O’Connor, Tittl, Kreibich, Behnke, Brill, Armstrong, B. Jacobson, Piwowarczyk and Melotik; cosponsored by Senator Cabral-Guevara.
Relating to: mathematics assessments, achievement plans, and interventions.
By Representatives Hurd, Donovan, Allen, Duchow, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Murphy, Mursau, O’Connor and Wittke; cosponsored by Senators Hutton and Cabral-Guevara.
…
The committee will also vote to recommend the following proposals in executive session:
Relating to: prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing food containing certain ingredients in free or reduced-price meals.
By Representatives Moses, Callahan, O’Connor, Melotik, Behnke, Knodl, Wichgers, Allen, Mursau and Goeben; cosponsored by Senator Cabral-Guevara.
Relating to: requiring cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property or at school-sponsored athletic events.
By Representatives Spiros, Pronschinske, Novak, Behnke, Franklin, Gustafson, B. Jacobson, Joers, Kaufert, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Mursau, O’Connor, Piwowarczyk, Prado, Sinicki, Snyder and Subeck; cosponsored by Senators James and Wanggaard.
Relating to: driver education instruction related to school bus safety.
By Representatives Penterman, Sortwell, Dittrich, Gundrum, O’Connor, Subeck, Goeben, Kreibich, Piwowarczyk, Mursau, Ortiz-Velez, Behnke, Goodwin and Knodl; cosponsored by Senators James and Spreitzer.
Relating to: equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices.
By Representatives Penterman, Dittrich, Steffen, Gundrum, Subeck, Mursau, Kreibich, Ortiz-Velez, Goodwin and Knodl; cosponsored by Senators James and Nass.
Relating to: allowing individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program.
By Representatives Penterman, Armstrong, Behnke, Brooks, Goeben, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, O’Connor, Piwowarczyk and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Jagler and Nass.
Relating to: dual enrollment programs, creating the Council on Dual Enrollment, and transfer of postsecondary course credits.
By Representatives Murphy, Kitchens, Behnke, Dittrich, Knodl, Melotik, Mursau, O’Connor, Penterman, Rodriguez and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Jacque.
Relating to: teacher preparatory programs.
By Representatives Goeben, Duchow, Behnke, Kreibich, Maxey, Murphy and Mursau; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Marklein and Keyeski.
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Legislative Alert: Governor Evers Signs Student Cellphone Restriction Bill
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 31, 2025
Governor Evers signed SB 2/AB 29 relating to restricting the use of cellphones during instruction time into law today. The new act requires all public school districts to adopt policies that prohibit students from using personal wireless devices during instructional time. Wisconsin ‘s bipartisan passage of this legislation makes it the 36th state to do so.
This move comes as part of a broader national trend: this school year alone, 17 states and the District of Columbia introduced new restrictions on student device use during class time.
Governor Evers acknowledged that in many cases, these are decisions best made locally. Yet he also expressed his view that the state has an obligation to ensure the welfare of students across Wisconsin: “My promise to the people of Wisconsin is to always do what’s best for our kids,” he said. He voiced concern that unchecked cellphone and social-media access can be “a major distraction from learning, a source of bullying, and a barrier to our kids’ important work of just being a kid.”
Some other key points for school leaders:
- Many Wisconsin districts already have cellphone/device policies in place; according to a survey by the Wisconsin Policy Forum and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, about 90% of districts reported having some form of restrictive device policy.
- The statewide requirement mandates that by July 1,2026, each district adopts a policy prohibiting wireless communication devices during instructional time. Exceptions must include use during emergencies, for student health care, when allowed under an IEP/504 plan, or when a teacher authorizes use for an educational purpose.
- The legislation leaves it to local school boards and district leaders to decide the “how” — how to handle enforcement, how to communicate to staff and students, and how an existing device-policy aligns with the new state requirement.
Please reach out if you need additional information.
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DPI Releases 2025–26 General School Aid Figures
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 15, 2025
This morning, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released certified general school aid figures for the 2025–26 school year. Under the 2025–27 state biennial budget, funding for general school aids remains flat at $5.58 billion for 2025–26. District impacts vary significantly; of the state’s 421 school districts, 111 (26%) will receive an increase in aid compared to 2024–25, while 301 (71%) will see a decrease.
District-by-district aid amounts are available on DPI’s School Financial Services webpage, organized both alphabetically and by percent change. WASBO has prepared a statement to help districts frame discussions about the local impact of the state’s decision not to increase general aid funding and the existing authority to raise revenue limits by $325 per pupil.
The impact of the 2025–27 state budget will look different in every district, but for many, it creates a tough message to deliver: state decisions are shifting financial pressure to local property taxpayers while schools continue to struggle with limited resources for students.
Please reach out with any questions,
Dee
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Legislative Update AB 196 / SB 170
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 14, 2025
Good afternoon,
One bill with broad, bipartisan support is currently stalled in committee. With limited session days remaining, it is critical that Assembly Bill 196 / Senate Bill 170 – Rehired Annuitants advance to clear both committees so it can hopefully reach the Governor’s desk.
I encourage you to work with your district leadership team to share your support for this important legislation. Using the talking points below and your district’s unique story, please consider sending an email to your legislators as well as all members of the Senate and Assembly committees where the bill is awaiting a vote (email addresses included below). To find your legislators, please use this link.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. If you’re able to connect with legislators, I’d love to see the responses you receive and am happy to offer any support you might need as those conversations continue.
Thank you for your work,
Dee
Sample Message
Subject: Support for AB 196 / SB 170 – Rehired Annuitants
Dear Chairmen and Committee Members,
Respectfully, I request that you schedule a vote for AB 196 / SB 170 in your respective committees. This legislation provides schools and public employers with a direct and effective tool to address urgent staffing shortages. It allows retirees to return to service without compromising the long-term integrity of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), ensuring sustainability and security for all members. The current 75-day break-in-service requirement remains in place.
This bill addresses real needs in our classrooms—particularly in hard-to-fill positions such as special education, computer science, mathematics, physics, advanced placement courses, and music. Retired educators bring invaluable experience and institutional knowledge, allowing them to step into classrooms with minimal onboarding and an immediate positive impact.
Under current law, retirees may return to private-sector employment without suspending their annuity. This legislation extends that flexibility to public employers, helping school districts and other public entities meet critical workforce needs. Across Wisconsin, districts are already relying on retired teachers who have suspended their WRS benefits to fill essential positions. This bill makes that process more sustainable and effective, allowing schools to focus on students rather than vacancies.
Thank you for your consideration and leadership on this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title / District]
Committee Contact List
(Copy and paste into your “To” or “Cc” field as needed.)
Senate Committee
Sen.Tomczyk@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Hutton@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Carpenter@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Spreitzer@legis.wisconsin.gov
Assembly Committee
Rep.Donovan@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Kaufert@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Gundrum@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Brent.Jacobson@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Pronschinske@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.CAnderson@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Palmeri@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Rivera-Wagner@legis.wisconsin.gov
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Capitol Update – Joint Informational Education Committee Hearing
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | September 23, 2025
The Senate and Assembly Committees on Education, chaired by Senator Jagler (R-Watertown) and Representative Kitchens (R–Sturgeon Bay) have scheduled a Joint Informational Hearing for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. This is only an informational hearing – unlike a typical public hearing, only invited speakers will provide testimony, and the focus will be on broad policy topics rather than specific legislation.
Agenda topics include:
- Trends and projections for student populations
- Changes to the school report card system
Invited speakers represent:
- Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
- Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL)
- Institute for Reforming Government (IRG)
- City Forward Collective
The hearing will be streamed live on WisEye at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24, and will also be archived for viewing with a free account. The SAA will provide a summary of the hearing and related media coverage later this week.
- Education Reform | Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
- K-12 Education And Higher Education – Institute for Reforming Government
- City Forward Collective – Ending Educational Inequity in Milwaukee
Discussions in the legislature regarding population trends and the declining birthrate in Wisconsin have spurred conversations around School District Shared Services and Consolidation. Below are resources related to that discussion:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Applied Population Laboratory – Declining Enrollment
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Applied Population Laboratory – Public School Enrollment Projection Update
- School District Reorganization (Legislative Fiscal Bureau – Informational Paper)
- Joint Legislative Council Recommendations to the 2023-24 Legislature (2022 Shared Services and Consolidation Study Committee Report and Proposals)
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