(The Center Square) – Wisconsin State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly called for non-partisanship and increased public school funding in her State of Education address, condemning the Republican-led legislature for tying up money meant to fund the state’s new literacy law.
While the Department of Instruction’s new Office of Literacy has already given curriculum suggestions and other teacher support, it has only received 2% of funding allocated to it, leaving public schools to foot the bill.
Underly blasted the Joint Committee on Finance for failing to include the rest of the literacy funding on their latest agenda, accusing them of inconsistency.
“[To] State legislators: Release the funding. Release the funding so our schools–your schools, your constituents’ schools–can do the work they need to do,” she said. “You say you care about literacy when the spotlight is on you, but you continue to obstruct the release of this critical funding. People across the state see that inconsistency. Let’s get that funding released so that we can fulfill the promises we all made to help our kids read.”
The legislature has been locked in a legal battle over education funding with Gov. Tony Evers, refusing to release the rest of the money due to the governor’s partial veto in the state budget that would extend the education funding from two years to 400 years. Republicans have called his move both fiscally dangerous and unconstitutional.
Underly also demanded full funding for mental health services in the next biennial budget, pointing to increased rates of depression and anxiety among Wisconsin students. She also requested funding for providing free breakfast and lunch to kids, raising wages for teachers, and supporting more special education services.
Currently, public school districts in Wisconsin receive state reimbursement for about one-third of the cost of special education services. Underly called the amount unacceptable and demanded the state fund at least 60% of special education programs.
“In order to support our educators and students, we must increase special education funding,” she said. “The state has a massive budget surplus. And school districts are telling us they need more resources…Rebuilding Wisconsin’s strong, high-quality public education system requires that we adequately and equitably fund our public schools. So today, I am calling on the state legislature to increase revenue limits and sustainably fund our public schools.”
The state currently has a budget surplus of more than $3.1 billion.
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