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Legislative Update


DPI releases July 1 estimates of 2021-22 general school aids

by | Jul 1, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Budget, State Issue

As required by state law, the DPI released its July 1 estimate of the general school aids each public school district will receive for the 2021-22 school year. Today’s estimates are based in part on the K-12 funding package approved by the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Finance Committee (JFC) on June 17. K-12 funding was not changed by either house of the Legislature and along with other budget provisions now heads to the governor for his signature or veto.

General school aids are the largest source of state support for Wisconsin public schools. Under the JFC package, general school aids for 2021-22 will total an estimated $5.0 billion, representing a $109.9 million (2.2 percent) increase over last year.

Due to changes in the aid deduction for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and the JCF’s recommendation to eliminate aid deductions for the Milwaukee-area legacy independent charter schools, the estimated increase in aid payments to districts is $196.3 million.

Of the state’s 421 school districts, 276 districts (66 percent) are estimated to receive more general aids in 2021-22 than in 2020-21, while 140 districts (33 percent) are estimated to receive less; five districts are estimated to have no change in aid between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years. 

The figures released today are estimated amounts that are subject to change. That is because they are based on budgeted, rather than audited, school district data, and because the state’s 2021-23 biennial budget is not yet final. Final official aid certifications for each public school district will be released on October 15, once audits of school district financial reports have been completed and the 2021-23 state budget has been enacted.

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