Wisconsin’s Educators Applaud Evers’ “Year of the Kid” Budget

It invests in public school students, and children’s health

The following statements can be attributed to Wisconsin teacher Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council – Wisconsin’s largest association of educators:

“Building a better Wisconsin starts with investments in public education. The governor’s budget reduces costs for families and makes crucial investments in students. If this budget passes as is, it will improve the quality of life for all Wisconsinites for generations to come. This budget embodies educators’ deeply held belief in the importance of investing in students’ education, success, health, and wellbeing.

“It’s the hope of Wisconsin educators that the Legislature answers the governor’s call for investments that help our schools hire and support more teachers, school counselors and other personnel who can nurture the development and mental health of our children in this especially critical time.”

“In particular, the educators I know appreciated that the governor said, ‘If our kids are fed, healthy, and feel safe, they will perform better in class.’ Educators are also relieved and heartened to hear Governor Evers cite the record number of school referendum initiatives in 2024 and call for increased investment in public schools. We agree with him when he said, ‘Doing the right thing for Wisconsin begins by doing what’s best for our kids. So, my pro-kid budget makes the largest investment in Wisconsin’s kids in any budget by any governor in state history.’”

Wirtz-Olsen highlighted the following features from the budget address Governor Evers delivered this evening:

• Increases special education funding reimbursement for public school students to 60 percent of their cost, more than doubling the current reimbursement, but still far below the 90 percent reimbursement unaccountable voucher schools receive.
• Restores full, free, and fair collective bargaining rights for public employees.
• Invests an additional $3.15 billion in public education across the board.
• Puts $300 million in fund to get lead out of service lines, water fountains and childcare centers.
• Allocates $80 million for literacy coaches, tutors, and other key literacy supports.
• Makes $60 million increase for technical colleges.
• Increases $325 per-pupil increase to $334 in the first year and $345 in the second year.
• Lowers out-of-pocket medical costs for families.
• Holds the line on property tax increases.
• Cracks down on price gouging.

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