MILWAUKEE, Wis. — David Crowley is running for governor to fully fund our public education system, making sure every child gets a good education that sets them up for success for the rest of their life.

This week, David met with Mary Salisbury, a mom with two kids living in Madison who is extremely worried about how inadequate funding for public schools and special education is harming Wisconsin children and their ability to receive the quality education they deserve. They discussed Crowley’s commitment to fully fund Wisconsin’s public schools and fight for more resources for mental health services, special education, and classroom support efforts in ensuring Wisconsin’s most vulnerable children do not fall through the cracks and have the tools to succeed.

“As a father of three daughters who attend Wisconsin public schools, I agree with parents like Mary that we must fully fund our education system, including restoring access to mental health resources, increasing special education funding, and offering career readiness and job training opportunities that don’t require an expensive four year degree,” Crowley said. “MAGA Congressman Tom Tiffany has voted to defund public education and is so extreme he’s even tried abolishing the U.S. Department of Education. As governor, I’ll work to fund public education in Wisconsin so all kids have the best chance at getting a good paying job and having a bright future.”

While David works to fully fund public education and improve student outcomes in Wisconsin, Congressman Tiffany is making matters worse — and more expensive. New reporting this back-to-school season shows the cost of basic school supplies has jumped 7.7% compared to last year, with prices on staples like lunch boxes, notebooks, and index cards climbing 20% or more. These are increases that researchers and retailers alike are tying directly to Trump and Tiffany’s tariffs and rising fuel costs. Nearly half of parents now say they’ll have to take on debt just to cover the back-to-school list.

What David Crowley Will Get Done As Governor:

  • Invest in Wisconsin’s public schools and provide increased and reliable K-12 year-round funding.
  • Increase special education funding, working toward 90% program funding.
  • Establish a universal pre-K program guaranteed for all 3 year olds, regardless of income level or school.
  • Improving career readiness programs that introduce high school students to job apprenticeships, technical schools, and colleges.

What David Crowley Has Already Delivered for Wisconsin:

Fighting to fully fund Wisconsin’s public schools

  • In the State Assembly, Crowley supported giving an additional $34 million to the Department of Public Instruction.
  • Crowley also supported a bill that would give communities funding for schools focused on improving student learning, strengthening families, and developing healthier communities.

Working to keep students healthy and safe

  • Crowley supported a bill to give $17 million in additional funding to school mental health programs. He also supported a bill that would nearly double grant funding for schools to partner with local mental health agencies.
  • Crowley also supported a bill that would increase funding for school safety programs that requires public and private schools to designate a safety team and implement safety plans.

Improving education outcomes for the most vulnerable students

  • Crowley has championed special education funding, including supporting the “No Less than 33%” bill, which would guarantee an increase in special education funding by at least 33 percent.
  • Crowley also worked to close the achievement gap by reducing class sizes and increasing funding for teacher development. The program focuses on schools with lower income kids.
  • As County Executive, Crowley helped secure over $800,000 in federal grant funding for early childhood development, targeting low income families in Milwaukee County.