Hi, this is Senator Howard Marklein. I represent the 17th Senate District in southern and southwestern Wisconsin.
As summer winds down, the signs of a new school year are all around us. Friday night football is kicking off, families are squeezing in one last backyard barbecue, and stores are bustling with back-to-school shoppers.
Since school let out, the Legislature has been hard at work on behalf of our teachers, students, and families. We wrote a budget that includes more than $1 billion dollars in new, spendable resources for school districts across the state.
The budget included the largest increase in special education funding in state history. We also invested in school-based mental health services and provided funding to teach kids the science of reading and improve literacy across the state. These investments will not only support kids, but the educators who work with them every day.
I also want to take a moment to thank all of the dedicated teachers who have spent the summer preparing their classrooms and lesson plans. My niece is a teacher and she recently told me how excited she is to welcome her students and start a brand-new school year.
On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the Legislature, happy first day of school! I hope this year is a great one!
