MONROE — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction distributed funding to schools June 17 from numerous programs, totaling $1.8 billion, with an additional $144 million distributed during the week prior. Among the payments are the first from a new state program supporting mental health services in schools.
Aid for School Mental Health Programs was created in the 2017-19 state biennial budget in response to the large, unmet need throughout Wisconsin. In total, $3 million is helping 89 public school districts, independent — public — charter schools and private choice schools to expand mental health services offered by school social workers.
Today’s payments, which in total reached every Wisconsin school district, included aid from three programs that support educating students with disabilities. High Cost Special Education Aid totaling $11.7 million will help 173 school districts and other agencies serve students with the highest needs. The department used $2.3 million in flexible federal funds to bolster $9.4 million in state allocations for this aid program.
The School District of Monroe received more than $99,500 in aid, roughly 18% of total costs. New Glarus School District was allotted more than $2,600, which is about 6% of total costs for high cost special education.
In addition, Special Education Transition Incentive Grants totaling $3 million went to 360 school districts and independent charter schools, in proportion to the number of their graduates with disabilities who were in successful employment or education one year after graduation. The School District of Albany received a $3,000 grant; Argyle School District received $2,000; Black Hawk School District was granted $1,000; Brodhead School District received $6,000; Darlington Community School District received a $4,000 grant; Evansville took in $12,000; Monroe received a $9,000 grant; New Glarus School District received $3,000; and Pecatonica Area School District was granted $2,000.
Finally, the department sent $1.8 million in Supplemental Special Education Aid to 11 small school districts where special education costs were high relative to district revenue.
However, the primary program that helps districts provide special education services, Special Education and School-Age Parents Aid, has seen a decade of flat funding in the face of increased local costs. That program distributed its final payments for the fiscal year on June 10, in total reimbursing less than 25% of districts’ eligible expenses.
Today, the department also provided $12.7 million in High Cost Pupil Transportation Aid to help 154 rural districts with high transportation costs.
Black Hawk received more than $64,700 as part of the appropriation. Pecatonica, which has a cost of slightly more than $715 per student, received nearly $31,000 in aid.
The largest portion of today’s payments, at $1.6 billion, was the fourth installment of state general school aids for this fiscal year. General school aids account for approximately 79% of state funding paid to Wisconsin’s public PK-12 schools. General school aids along with local property taxes represent the two largest sources of funding for public schools in Wisconsin; these two sources are constrained by each school district’s “revenue limit,” a strict cap imposed by state law on local school funding.
The mental health, special education, and transportation funding streams are among several of the programs providing aid this month which are considered “categorical aid.” These programs, established by the Legislature, allocate a set amount of funding for defined needs or student groups.
In addition, payments were distributed from federal programs and smaller state sources. Aid for School Mental Health Programs was distributed on June 10, along with funds from other programs.