In his newly submitted 2017-’19 budget proposal, State Superintendent Tony Evers requested a slight increase in K-12 education funding from Gov. Scott Walker and the state Legislature Tuesday.
In total, the Department of Public Instruction requested a $707 million increase in state support and general aid. The proposal would amount to a 2.7 percent increase in funding for 2017, and a 5.4 percent increase the following year.
The second increase is intended to bring equity to school funding through the reintroduction of the “Fair Funding for Our Future” plan.
The plan includes reforms to increase spending authority to allow districts to keep up with inflation, as well as maintain the current level of property taxes. It would also ensure a minimum funding level of $3,000 per
“This budget is about the state partnering with schools to prepare students for college and career,” Evers said. “From Winter to Waukesha, a greater state investment is the best way to demonstrate our shared commitment to kids and tackle persistent achievement gaps.”
Much of this investment would be targeted at rural districts, according to Evers’ proposal, which
Since the passage of Act 10 by Walker and Republicans in 2011, a measure that limited the scope of public employees’ collective bargaining, school districts have been able to
Unlike their rural counterparts, wealthier districts are capable of offering better compensation packages to attract high-quality and specialized educators.
Rural districts must then compete with urban and suburban districts for teachers, while being unable to offer superior pay or training opportunities. Students in these districts are already underperforming those in urban and suburban districts, Evers notes.
“In talking with legislative leaders, the governor and my fellow agency heads in Wisconsin, I am optimistic that we can work together to ensure every small-town kid has access to a quality education,” Evers said.
