71% Want State to Increase Special Education Funding

While poll questions about Governor Evers running for a third term and President Trump’s low approval ratings dominated the headlines about the Marquette University Law School poll released June 25, more significantly, the poll found that an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents want the state to increase special education funding for public schools. A full 71 percent favor increasing state funding, including 52 percent of self-identified Republican voters.

WEAC has emphasized increasing state special education funding and bringing it in line with the state’s special education reimbursement for unaccountable private voucher schools in all of its activities related to the 2025-27 state budget. Currently, the state reimburses vouchers’ special education costs at 90 percent and public-school students’ special education at less than 30 percent. As record numbers of school districts go to referendum to meet essential costs, the low special education reimbursement rate is a large contributing factor.

As the Republican majority on the state’s Joint Finance Committee will soon pass along to the full Legislature a budget that leaves that disparity virtually unchanged, and freezes almost all funding for public schools while continuing to increase it for vouchers, WEAC leaders are urging all WEAC members to email your legislators now.