WEAC Members: Top 5 Stories of 2025
As public education supporters everywhere prepare for a 2026 that promises to be active and impactful, an informal survey of WEAC members found the following five stories outpacing all others for educators’ attention in 2025.
Public Education Supporters in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly Sworn into 14 New Seats
WEAC-backed, pro-public-education candidates won back 14 seats in the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate in the 2024 fair-map elections. These new legislators took office in January 2025, setting the stage for a close contest for the majorities in both houses in the 2026 elections.
Spring 2025 Election Results Brighten State’s Future for Years to Come
In April, WEAC welcomed the re-election of Dr. Jill Underly as State Superintendent and the election of Judge Susan Crawford as Supreme Court Justice. In earning the recommendation, educator-members cited Underly’s extensive education experience and Crawford’s strong record of protecting fairness and impartiality.
“Educators know our students need the best, most committed leadership in Wisconsin in these trying times, and Dr. Underly and Judge Crawford are as dedicated as we are,” WEAC President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen said.
No Kings Rallies Draw Record Crowds Demanding Change from Trump Administration
Americans are fighting back as the Trump administration persecutes immigrants and attempts to undo decades of federal responsibility for school funding, special education and child nutrition. With dozens of events throughout Wisconsin and thousands throughout the United States, countless WEAC and NEA members found a No Kings gathering near them in October.
More than 7 million people participated in the rallies nationwide, and Wisconsin saw its largest protests since the 2011 rallies against Scott Walker’s anti-union Act 10 law.
WEAC Local Unions Sweep Recertification Elections
Recertification elections ended on November 25 for educators whose local unions chose to recertify with the school district, and the results were overwhelmingly successful. Statewide, more than 98 percent of the local associations vying for recertification prevailed in their elections, and more than 99 percent of the voters voted to recertify the union.
“For local associations that recertify, the union is up for a vote every year, and every year the union wins by crushing margins,” WEAC President Wirtz-Olsen said. “And the results get stronger year to year. These voting totals illustrate, with undeniable proof, that educators support the union and value the outcomes that the union produces.”
Special Education Reimbursement Fairness Moves to Front Burner
For years, WEAC has emphasized increasing the state special education funding reimbursement for public schools and bringing it in line with the state’s special education reimbursement for unaccountable private voucher schools. The state reimburses vouchers’ special education costs at 90 percent and public-school students’ special education at barely one-third of that.
A June 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.
Hundreds of WEAC members emailed their legislators and Governor Evers on the issue during the 2025-27 budget process, and Evers doubled the reimbursement in his budget. Ultimately, Republican legislators agreed to a modest increase in the reimbursement, but passed language that does not require the state to follow through. Legislative Democrats have introduced a bill to close this loophole, and clearly the issue is not going away.
