Board hears state budget update: special education reimbursement modestly raised, no increase in general school aid

Mia Coyle, board member, told the Stoughton Area School District Board of Education that a state finance committee has approved an omnibus education budget proposal that would raise some special education reimbursements but would not increase general school aid.

The proposal approved by the Joint Committee on Finance would increase the regular special education reimbursement rate to 35% for the 2025–26 school year and 37.5% for 2026–27, Coyle said. The package would also expand funding for high‑cost special education aid, which the committee’s plan would fund at 50% reimbursement in 2025–26 and 90% in 2026–27 for costs that exceed a district’s high‑cost threshold, she said. Coyle said the committee’s proposal includes minimal increases in mental health, transportation and sparsity aids and funds for vouchers and charter expansion.

“...the proposal includes a very modest increase in special education reimbursement rate, which would increase the rate to 35% for the 2526 school year and 37.5% for the 2627 school year,” Coyle said during the meeting, adding that the finance committee’s plan shows “a whopping $0 increase in general school aid.”

Nut graf: The board was briefed as the budget moves from committee to full legislative consideration and to the governor. Coyle and other board members framed the moment as an opportunity for local advocacy because the committee’s proposal would leave the revenue‑limit increase to be funded by property taxes and would not raise per‑pupil general aid.

Board members discussed the difference between reimbursement programs. Coyle explained that high‑cost special education aid covers costs that exceed a set threshold (she said $30,000 in the meeting for the threshold used in the high‑cost calculation) and that that program reimburses only eligible costs above that threshold; separate regular special education reimbursement applies to a different set of costs. She warned that the high‑cost reimbursement as structured can vary by district and year because it depends on how much individual districts spend.

Coyle said the current reimbursement rates in recent years have been lower than initially projected: “right now, the state has identified here’s x amount of dollars... they estimate that to be, we’ll just say around 30%,” and the final percent paid can vary depending on total eligible spending across districts.

The board heard specific advocacy guidance. Coyle cited the Wisconsin Public Education Network’s letter and encouraged board members and community members to contact legislators and the governor if they oppose the committee’s proposal. She also noted a scheduled “day of action” phone bank the following day to encourage voters to contact the governor’s office and ask for a veto if the final budget does not increase school funding as advocates request.

Ending: Board members did not take formal action on the budget at the meeting; Coyle’s update was informational and included specific steps for community advocacy while the budget moves through both legislative chambers and to the governor.