Contact:
Tom Evenson
(608) 266-2839
Madison – Governor Scott Walker highlighted the significant K-12 and rural school investments included in his Executive Budget proposal this afternoon at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Middle and High School in Chetek. His proposal includes $649 million in new state aids for all of Wisconsin’s K-12 schools, lifts total K-12 investment to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high, and increases per pupil categorical aid by $509.2 million.
“We’re investing in student success today to ensure the future success of our state,” Governor Walker said. “Our future leaders, our next generation of lawmakers, educators, law enforcement officers, farmers, and manufacturers are currently laying the solid foundation on which they’ll build their careers. We want to guarantee the education we’re providing them is top-notch, which is why our budget proposal makes historic investments in K-12 education and rural schools. The Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Area School District directly benefits from these investments, and looking forward, we’ll continue to make our students a priority so we can set them up for success as they fuel the growth of our economy.”
Governor Walker’s budget proposal also increases support for the state’s rural schools through a $20 million increase in Sparsity Aid, $10.4 million increase in High-Cost Transportation Aid, $92,000 investment over the biennium in Pupil Transportation Aid, an increase in the reimbursement rate for pupil transportation, and an additional $22.5 million investment in broadband infrastructure grants.
The Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Area School District is estimated to receive a more than $1.1 million increase in funding from these select categorical aids under Governor Walker’s biennial budget, including:
- $640,844 in additional Per Pupil Aid. Governor Walker’s budget increases per-pupil funding by $200 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2018 and $204 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2019. This marks the largest increase since the 2005-2007 biennium.
- $262,119 in additional High-Cost Transportation Aid. High-Cost Transportation Aid provides additional transportation aid to school districts with per-pupil transportation costs more than 150 percent of the state average and with a density of 50 pupils per square mile or less.
- $199,600 in additional Sparsity Aid. Sparsity Aid provides $300 per pupil of additional funding to small rural districts that have less than 745 pupils and a population density of fewer than 10 pupils per square mile of district attendance. Governor Walker’s budget proposal also creates a $100 per pupil tier of Sparsity Aid funding for districts with 746-1000 pupils, which provides additional stability for school districts that hover around the 745 pupil buffer.
The Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Area School District may also be eligible for further funding under Governor Walker’s budget proposal, such as mental health grants, energy efficiency incentives, and special needs grants.
To learn more about Governor Walker’s proposed investment in K-12 and rural education, click here. For Governor Walker’s full 2017 Budget Address, click here.
