How Wisconsin’s State Superintendent Plans To Invest In Kids

Ahead of the state’s next biennial budget and a re-election campaign, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly announces budget proposals that invest in children

In the final lead up to the fall election, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly began rolling out the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) budget proposal for the state’s upcoming biennial budget. The Superintendent’s announcements trickled amidst the backdrop of Donald Trump making campaign pledges to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education – a move that would draw even more attention to the state’s education department. 

Underly’s budget would benefit taxpayers too, proposing that the state’s current budget surplus be leveraged to fund school programs instead of raising state or local taxes. An increasing number of school district referendums have been presented to Wisconsin voters in the last year, raising local property taxes. 

This past fall alone, over a quarter of Wisconsin’s school districts had one or more referendums on the ballot to make up for budget shortfalls amidst decades of decreasing state support. In total, the referendums sought $4.2 billion in taxpayer funds through the referendums. 

Here’s a few things included in the 2025-2027 DPI Budget proposal while being “a true win-win” as Underly says, for taxpayers: 

Universal School Lunches

According to a 2023 survey, a quarter of Wisconsin’s High School students reported going hungry due to a lack of food at home. 

But when students go hungry, their academic performance suffers and behavioral issues tend to creep up. Underly’s proposal to provide nearly $300 million to feed Wisconsin’s children would remedy that.

“Every child deserves the right to learn and thrive without the burden of hunger,” Underly said in a press conference announcing the proposal, “yet so many of our students come to school every day unable to focus because their stomachs are empty.”

Emily Riedler, the Director of Food Service for Kenosha Unified School District, said, “Too many families fall just outside the qualifying limit for free or reduced meals but they still struggle to afford the cost.” 

Riedler said she has seen first hand the immediate impact that free and consistent meals have for students. Kenosha Unified School District is currently in its second year participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students in “high poverty” schools or school districts. 

After pandemic funding ended, Riedler said families “missed the simplicity and security of free meals for all.”

Underly’s proposal also seeks to support Wisconsin farmers by fully funding the school milk program and encouraging school districts to purchase fresh food from local farmers and producers. 

A Focus on Student Mental Health

The last DPI survey showed some alarming stats, with over 59% of Wisconsin students reporting a mental health challenge in the last year. 

Underly said in a statement, “We know what we need to do to act and stop this alarming mental health crisis.” 

Underly’s $304 million proposal shows action by increasing funds for the School-Based Mental Health Services Program, expanding the number of eligible mental health support staff and expanding existing programs like the Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grants to include middle schools.

Underly’s proposal isn’t the first time that mental health has been front and center in our state’s budget either. 

Leading up to the 2023-25 biennial budget, Governor Evers declared 2023 “the year of mental health” and sought $500 million in mental and behavioral health services across the state. 

Evers’ final budget included appropriations for mental health, but not nearly as much as he requested, with just $30 million going to support “Get Kids Ahead,” a program that helps public and charter schools build mental health services.

Funding Mandated Programs

State law requires certain programs be implemented in Wisconsin classrooms, like the early childhood literacy program, Act 20, which passed in 2023.

But implementing a new early childhood literacy program can be tricky, especially when you lack the funds to do so. 

While Republicans in the State Senate have blocked $50 million in implementation funds, Underly’s budget proposal seeks to fund the literacy program and increase the school and community staffing resources needed to sustain it. 

Federal law also requires certain services and accommodations be made for special education students. Local schools are reimbursed by the state for special education services, but disproportionately. 

Underly’s proposal includes raising the special education reimbursement rate to 90% by 2027. Private voucher schools in Wisconsin are already receiving a 90% reimbursement rate while public schools only receive just over 30%.

“These are mandated services and schools need the help,” said Underly.