Capitol Update 091225
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | September 12, 2025
As the Legislature returned to the Capitol to resume work during their fall floor period there was no shortage of news this week. The respective caucuses in the Assembly held their own press conferences, highlighting their priorities for education policy this fall.
On Thursday (9/11), Assembly Democrats announced their proposals to fund healthy meals for all kids, require the publication of voucher costs on property tax bills, and provide general equalization aid in the amount designed to equal the allowable revenue limit increase of $325 (plus additional dollars to meet CPI). There will likely be additional press conferences highlighting not only their education policy priorities but also other policy priority areas as we move through the fall.
On Tuesday (9/9), Assembly Republicans held a press conference outlining their fall education policy priorities. The event was light on specifics but highlighted several areas of focus, including:
- A proposed “Teachers Bill of Rights” to establish new state standards for student behavior and discipline in local districts
- “Act 20” for mathematics
- Consolidation and shared services
- Streamlining dual enrollment and ECCP
- Restricting drone use on school property
Speaker Robin Vos (R–Rochester) also announced the formation of four task forces that will convene this fall on: government efficiency, protecting children, elder services, and the administrative rules process. These are broad topics with few details and no bill drafts at this stage—a not-uncommon approach. It is also important to note that the State Senate has not publicly signaled alignment with the issues presented.
For context, the recommendations from the 2022 Legislative Council Study Committee on Shared Services and Consolidation emerged after many hours of public testimony and deliberation by legislators, public members, and representatives from WASB and WASDA, with input from school leaders statewide. Some of those proposals could be included in the “package” referenced in the press conference. However, new ideas are circulating among legislators—though not yet in draft form. These include policies to “adjust mill rates” of consolidated districts, “whole grade sharing,” and other potential changes that could include requirements on the implementation of already approved referenda in districts entering consolidation.
It is worth cautioning that the Assembly Majority appears unlikely to support new state funding this session to support districts in consolidation. It should be noted, Senate floor session opportunities are likely to be more limited this fall.
While there are currently no drafts available from the majority party, and no additional details are available beyond the very few details provided in the press conference, I will be following up with expanded information I am gathering soon.
Below are links to the summary and proposals from the 2022 Legislative Council Study Committee on Share Services and Consolidation referenced above:
- 2023 Assembly Bill 190 school and school district accountability report for a consolidated school district.
- 2023 Assembly Bill 191 reducing the number of members on the school board of a consolidated school district.
- 2023 Assembly Bill 192 aid for transporting pupils between school districts that share services and making an appropriation.
- 2023 Assembly Bill 193 grants for feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing and making an appropriation.
- 2023 Assembly Bill 194 state aid for school district consolidation.
- 2023 Assembly Bill 195 calculating a consolidated school district’s revenue limit.
- 2023 Assembly Bill 196 aid to school districts that share services for costs associated with student information systems and making an appropriation.
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Legislative Alert: Action Needed on AB 196/SB170
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | September 9, 2025
School Leaders,
While progress had been made on advancing AB 196/SB 170—legislation that eliminates the requirement for retired teachers to suspend their annuity or limit the time they can return to the classroom—it now appears that AB 196 has been removed from tomorrow’s committee agenda.
Your outreach is urgently needed. Please contact your legislators and urge them to help move this bill forward. A sample message is provided below; when possible, personalize it by including examples of how this legislation would positively impact your students and district. To identify your legislator, please follow this link.
Thank you for taking the time to act on this critical issue.
Dee
Sample Message to Legislators
Dear [Legislator],
I am writing to respectfully urge your support for Assembly Bill 196/Senate Bill 170, which would allow Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) retirees to return to public sector work without suspending their annuity. This proposal offers a timely and practical solution to the staffing shortages facing schools and other public employers.
The Assembly Committee on Local Government had been expected to hold an executive session on AB 196, but the bill has now been removed from the agenda. Since SB 170 has already had a public hearing, I ask for your leadership in moving both bills forward quickly so they can advance this session.
This legislation provides schools and public employers with a direct and effective tool for filling urgent vacancies:
- It allows retirees to return to service without compromising the long-term integrity of the WRS.
- The 75-day break in service requirement remains, and employers must continue contributing to the retirement system on behalf of rehired retirees—ensuring sustainability and security for all members.
- Staffing shortages in schools are real and pressing, particularly in hard-to-fill positions such as special education, computer science, math, physics, advanced placement, and music.
- Retired educators bring a wealth of experience and deep institutional knowledge, stepping into classrooms with minimal onboarding and immediate impact—especially when returning to their former districts.
- Other states have already adopted similar measures, recognizing that retired annuitants are a valuable resource for addressing workforce shortages.
- Under current law, retirees may return to private sector employment without suspending their annuity. This bill creates similar flexibility for public employers to meet urgent needs.
Districts across the state are already relying on retired teachers who have suspended their WRS benefits to help cover hard-to-fill positions. This bill would make that process more sustainable and effective, allowing schools to remain focused on students rather than scrambling to fill vacancies.
By supporting AB 196/SB 170, you would provide a vital resource to our communities and ensure that Wisconsin’s schools can continue delivering high-quality education to all students.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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Navigating the State Budget’s Local Impact
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | August 18, 2025
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of our students and communities. Your unified voice and continued conversations with legislators during the budget process helped secure the highest special education reimbursement rates in more than 30 years. This investment will make a real difference for all students, and it happened because you remained unified and persistent.
However, the work is not done. While the state budget provides important increases in special education funding that will set a new floor for the next budget, it does not include any new state aid to offset the reliance on property taxes. This means that the responsibility to fund ongoing educational and operational needs will largely fall on your local taxpayers. Of the $1.37 billion of “spendable revenue for schools,” $760 million, or 55.3% of the total, will come from local tax levy efforts. State support for public schools will be reduced by an additional $169 million over the biennium to pay for voucher schools.
What This Means for Your Community
- The state sets the school funding formula, and local districts must operate within it.
- The budget allows for a $325 per student increase in revenue limits – while it is not an inflationary increase, this ability is critical for maintaining programs and meeting rising basic costs like food, fuel, technology, transportation, and insurance.
- The state provided no increase in general aid, which results in a greater reliance on local property taxpayers.
- The state did not raise the per-pupil categorical aid ($742 pupil/year), making the $325 per-pupil revenue limit authority all the more critical.
- Potential federal education funding cuts could further increase reliance on state and local dollars.
- Maintaining and strengthening high-quality schools is directly connected to Wisconsin’s capacity to sustain and grow our economy.
Why This Matters
Every public school district will feel these changes differently based on local property values, student enrollment, and school board decisions. In some communities, the impact may be modest; in others, it may lead to significant tax increases or difficult choices about programs and staffing. A greater reliance on local taxpayers, who face differing economic realities, makes budgeting more difficult for the school district and families. These are challenging conversations, but they are necessary to ensure our students continue to have access to strong academic programs, career-oriented learning opportunities, and the resources they need to succeed. Transparent conversations are critical to building stronger community support for your district.
Lawmakers in Madison have the power to deliver on priorities most Wisconsinites share, keeping property taxes low and ensuring our public school students have the resources they need to succeed. These goals are not mutually exclusive, yet the state’s decision not to increase the general revenue available to public schools moves us in the opposite direction of both.
Stay Tuned…
I have included a basic list of supporting resources below – additional resources to support these discussions are forthcoming.
Supporting Resources:
- Wisconsin Policy Forum Report: Wisconsin’s National Per Pupil Funding Continues to Decline
- Compared to other states, Wisconsin’s per pupil funding continues a downward trend, dropping to 26th in national ranking and 9.9% less than the national average. Wisconsin was ranked 11th in 2002. Wisconsin has fallen behind Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota in funding.
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Legislative Fiscal Bureau K-12 Funding Increases in the 2025-27 Biennium
- Of the $1.37 billion of “spendable revenue for schools,” $760 million of it, 55.3% of the total, will come from local taxpayers through local tax levy effort (if every school board levies the full amount allowed under this budget, not accounting for referenda).
- Of the $1.37 billion of “spendable revenue for schools,” $760 million of it, 55.3% of the total, will come from local taxpayers through local tax levy effort (if every school board levies the full amount allowed under this budget, not accounting for referenda).
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau: General Aid Deduction for Vouchers
- Total payments under the choice and charter programs will increase by an estimated $274,209,600 GPR over the biennium compared to base year doubled. Of this amount, $169,875,500 will be funded through an aid reduction to pupils’ school districts of residence.”
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Estimated Effects of K-12 Funding Provisions for School Districts in the 2025-27 Biennium
- DPI 2025-26 July 1 Aid Estimate: 2025-26 July 1 Estimate – General Aid | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- DPI Federal Funding: Tracking Federal Funding: The Effect on Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- District by district resources, mapping, statewide impact
- DPI Wisconsin Public Schools Fact Sheet: Wisconsin at a Glance | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
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Urge Congress to Release Impounded Federal Education Funds
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | July 22, 2025
Good afternoon,
As you know, several critical federal education funding streams have been impounded. On June 30, the Administration notified states that it was not going to allocate FY25 funds for Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, Title IV-A, and Title IV-B – until further review. Yesterday, Title IV-B funds were released to the states. While we are relieved to see these critical funds being released, this is only $1.3 billion out of $6.2 billion. These delays create significant uncertainty for district budgeting, staffing, and service delivery.
Despite these partial releases, a large portion of funds remain withheld pending review. This will impact professional development and Title II, provide fewer resources to support students at risk, and overall create great budget uncertainty as districts plan for the start of a new school year just over a month away.
DPI has made the impact of freezing federal funds available district by district at: Tracking Federal Funding: The Effect on Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
What Can You Do?
Work with your district leadership team to craft a message to your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge them to:
- Request the U.S. Department of Education to release impounded Title funds immediately.
- Ensure the full and timely allocation of all federal K-12 education appropriations.
- Oppose any future delay tactics that interfere with funds already approved.
*Important note: After contacting your members of Congress, please forward your message to your state legislators and urge them to amplify your concerns with Wisconsin’s federal delegation.
Sample Message:
(Please make sure to personalize by providing specific examples of the programs or positions in your district that will need to be reduced or eliminated due to the delayed release of federal funds. Emphasize how these cuts will directly affect students.)
Dear [Senator/Representative Last Name],
As a school leader in Wisconsin, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing impoundment of critical federal education funds, including Titles I, II, III, and IV. These funds are essential for supporting our most vulnerable students, providing professional development , and maintaining a safe and well-rounded learning environment.
The delay in releasing these funds creates real hardship for our schools. I urge you to contact the U.S. Department of Education and ask that these dollars be released immediately and in full.
Please help Wisconsin schools by ensuring timely, predictable access to all federal K-12 education funds.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Title]
[District/School Name]
[City, WI]
Contact Your Federal Delegation:
U.S. Senate – Wisconsin (Baldwin, Johnson): https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
U.S. House – Find Your Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Forward your message to your state lawmakers:
Contact Your State Legislator:
Wisconsin State Legislature: WSL – Find Your Legislator
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2025-27 Budget Summary
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | July 8, 2025
Good morning, all,
Use this link to access a summary of the key K-12 provisions from the 2025-27 State Budget. Additional information will be shared this week on grant programs administered by other state agencies, as well as updates on the status of federal funds currently impounded and the potential impact of the federal reconciliation bill.
I understand you’ll be receiving a significant amount of information this week and in the weeks ahead as more details emerge on both state and federal budget provisions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m always happy to answer questions or provide any additional support you may need.
The link to the summary is also on the right side of the website under Latest Updates.
Be well,
Dee
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