Wisconsin K-12 leader says committee’s budget changes fail public schools

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s top education official said Friday that the Joint Finance Committee’s budget changes fails Wisconsin students, educators and public schools.

The committee voted late Thursday evening to approve a $229 million investment in special education targeting mental health and sparsity aid, which is additional state funding provided to small, rural school districts that meet specific criteria based on enrollment and population density.

“The budget they approved raises your property taxes, doesn’t support students with disabilities and cuts youth mental health funding – all at a time when more kids than ever are struggling, and schools are stretched thin,” Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly said in a statement. “This isn’t ‘right-sizing.’ It’s irresponsible. It puts politics ahead of kids and disregards educators

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