Contact: Representative Robyn Vining

608-266-9180

MADISON – Tomorrow, the Joint Finance Committee will vote on various motions related to education as proposed in the People’s Budget. Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) issued the following statement ahead of the Executive Session:

“Our public education system is the backbone of our communities and our state — it’s enshrined in our state’s constitution. Every child deserves a high quality public education. Our school districts are asking, and we need to listen. We need to increase per pupil funding to what schools actually need, not just enough to get by. Let’s fairly fund our schools to ensure the bright futures for our kids, because they are the most worthy investment.

Special education funding is the most crucial ask from school districts statewide. I am in strong support of this budget priority, which will ensure that students in special education programs are guaranteed the resources and opportunities they deserve. Funding special education helps all students — flat funding combined with an increased need for these programs has caused schools to draw funds for special ed out of their general education funds. Fair funding for special education is what the people want and it’s what our kids deserve.

We as taxpayers also deserve transparency — we deserve to know where our money is going. Last week, I introduced a bill with my colleagues, Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) and Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), which provides full transparency to residents of Wisconsin about how their property tax dollars are spent on voucher schools. I’ve heard from my constituents in Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Milwaukee, and I responded — it’s a fair ask that we show the people where their tax dollars are going.

I urge my colleagues in the Joint Finance Committee to support education investments for our kids and my colleagues in the legislature to support transparency for our taxpayers.”

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