RUSD committee endorses 2026 legislative priorities focusing on state aid, special education and teacher rehire rules

The Racine Unified School District committee unanimously endorsed a set of legislative priorities for 2026 aimed at increasing state support for local schools and clarifying funding transparency.

Committee members approved draft priorities that call for an increase in spendable state general-education aid, higher special-education funding, and changes to teacher annuity rules that would remove barriers for retired teachers to return to work without suspending pensions. The priorities also ask that district and school report cards better reflect participation in advanced programs (dual credit, IB, career and technical education) and that voucher-related levy amounts be reported clearly on tax bills statewide.

The move came after the committee reviewed recent budget outcomes and staffing challenges. The chair noted the district had expected higher state special-education funding (citing a previously discussed target of 40% in state support versus the 32% realized through the current budget process). A board member praised the draft priorities as covering "everything that's critical for us and that we're seeing in the news," and suggested ranking them at a future legislative meeting.

Members voted by roll call to endorse the package; the committee directed staff to prepare the priorities as reference documents for future board use and to consider ranking them at the next legislative meeting.

The priorities will be used to guide the district's advocacy with state lawmakers and to inform the delegate's positions where the issues intersect with WASB resolutions and state policy debates.