The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is advancing a major overhaul of the state’s school funding formula in its 2027-29 biennial budget request as Democrats take full control of state government and a former DPI official becomes chief of staff to Gov.-elect David Crowley.
The proposal would set the low revenue ceiling at 95% of the statewide average revenue authority per pupil, projected at $13,700, which officials say would benefit about half of districts. It would also add a 20% funding weight for economically disadvantaged students and English learners.
“The school funding formula is broken, and it has failed our children, our schools, and entire communities for decades,” State Superintendent Jill Underly said in a statement after Democrats held the governorship and won majorities in both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature last week. “Wisconsin’s public schools cannot continue to rely on referenda to provide the educational opportunities all students deserve.
“I am hopeful we are in a position to make meaningful change to the way we fund Wisconsin public schools, and I look forward to working with all of Wisconsin’s elected leaders to do what is best for our children, our schools, our teachers, and our entire state.”
DPI is also asking the state to shift roughly $1.98 billion in existing funding into the general equalization aid formula. That includes $1.275 billion from the School Levy Tax Credit, $574.7 million from per-pupil aid and $126.5 million in state aid tied to tax-exempt computers and personal property. Per-pupil aid would be eliminated and redistributed through equalization aid. An earlier portion of the agency’s request, submitted in September, sought $28 million for items including library systems, cybersecurity and technology upgrades.
Earlier this week, Gov.-elect Crowley named Jeff Pertl as his chief of staff. Pertl served as senior policy adviser in the DPI when Gov. Tony Evers was State Superintendent and then became Secretary of the Department of Children and Families under Evers before joining Crowley’s campaign.
DPI’s full budget request is expected to go to the Department of Administration later this month. Democrats assume control of the Legislature in January.
