A severe cut to funding leaves Wisconsin schools to plead for the state and federal government to invest in education as Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) held a press conference over recent budgetary decisions that will impact students July 9.
The biennial Wisconsin state budget signed last Thursday brought contention over funding for Wisconsin schools. Requested by the Department of Public Instruction was an increase in special education reimbursement rate of 90%. However, a compromise between Gov. Evers and Republican legislators led to an increase for special education reimbursement from 32.1% to 42% in the first year and 45% in the following year. Additionally, zero in new state general aid will be given for schools.
Pressure mounts as public education funding has been attacked on both a state and federal level. Federally, the Trump administration’s directive under the recently signed Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) cuts more than 40 federal K-12 programs in a $12 billion reduction to the Department of Education.
The bill looks to zero out a variety of grants and consolidate 18 grant programs into a $2 billion “Simplified Funding Program” with more state and district discretionary oversight into how funds are spent, Education Week reported.
MMSD now faces a $64 million shortfall in federally mandated education services. With no increase in state funding and no way to source the difference from property taxes due to no increase in 2025, historical programs formed in 1964 to combat child poverty are at risk.
“It will most definitely have future impacts. The per pupil revenue limit increase of $325 per student, which would normally be partially funded by the state, shifts to local property taxpayers,” Dr. Gothard said.
Within the $64 million shortfall, $1 million in federal funding will be withheld for MMSD’s after school programs and $1.9 million in federally mandated Title programs.
The $1 million withheld will affect Madison School & Community Recreation’s (MSCR) 11 locations with after school programs.
The withheld $1.9 million will put Title I, II, III and IV programs at risk. The programs are aimed at children from low income families to support educational needs, professional development for educators, English Language Learners and Title IV for arts, STEM, mental wellness and safe learning environments.
“I want to be clear about this, this is not a district leader complaining about the fact that we have to provide those services,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent of MMSD. “It is part of who we are as a community and a school district that we do this. So for us, it’s much more than a mandate. It’s a moral imperative that we serve our students — all of our students — with the very best of our ability.”
Contention over public school funding has been a continuing issue for Dr. Gothard through his time working in Madison and Minnesota schools as a teacher, administrator and superintendent. He frequently repeats the same point on the necessity for public education to be prioritized.
“Public schools are being asked to do more with less year after year after year,” Dr. Gothard said.
Dr. Gothard was joined by Verona Area School District Superintendent Dr. Tremanye Clardy. The two parrotted each other’s remarks on the need to invest in schools while warning what the budget cuts could do to their most vulnerable students.
“The federal education programs we rely on are not simply funding streams, they are lifelines that make that mission possible,” Dr. Clardy said. “As we think about these programs, they allow us to uphold the promise of public education. They build us. They build the classrooms where students are not just taught but truly known.”
Plans are to keep vital programs going in spite of federal funding cuts and lack of general aid, Clardy said.
Both MMSD and Verona will have to work within the bounds of its preliminary budget, but are wary about how the shift in quality for programs will look in the future. If funding is not adequate, school districts may look towards another referendum, Dr. Gothard said.
