MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — In a historic show of unity, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Delegate Assembly yesterday overwhelmingly approved an Emergency Resolution demanding the state government honor its commitment to special education funding. Proposed by the Wisconsin Heights School Board, the resolution passed with 93% support from rural, suburban, and urban districts alike. It is the first Emergency Resolution to pass the WASB Delegate Assembly in recent memory.
The resolution comes in response to a sudden funding gap. Under the 2025-27 state budget, school districts were promised a 42% reimbursement rate for special education costs, known as “special education categorical aid.” However, on November 15, long after local districts had finalized their annual budgets, the Department of Public Instruction informed schools that state appropriations would only cover a 35% reimbursement rate.
“This extraordinary level of agreement across Wisconsin’s school boards is a powerful, unified call for predictability,” said Wisconsin Heights school board member Dylan Helmenstine. “School districts are now facing a $140 million statewide shortfall for services that are legally mandated. Without state action, local taxpayers will be forced to bear the cost of this broken promise.”
The 7% cut is particularly difficult to absorb because state equalization aid remained stagnant this year. Because special education services are mandatory, districts cannot simply cut these programs; instead, they must divert funds from other classroom priorities or rely on local property taxes to bridge the gap.
With the Governor announcing an even larger projected surplus for the year, funds are available to rectify the mistake. With the passage of this resolution, the WASB is calling on the Legislature and the Governor to immediately fulfill the original 42% reimbursement promise for the 2025-26 school year.
“It’s our responsibility to advocate for our most vulnerable students, as well as our taxpayers, who continue to shoulder the weight of the state’s neglect in funding public education.” Wisconsin Heights board president Barb Statz said. “We are thankful to our fellow public school leaders for their strong support for this resolution.”
