State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor delivered her last State of Education Address today (9/17) virtually as the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that she oversees prepares its budget request for 2021-23. Stanford Taylor is not running for reelection to her post.
While she trumpeted Wisconsin schools’ successes through unprecedented challenges, she also expressed concern for persistent achievement gaps and working towards educational equity.
The only insights given to the DPI’s upcoming budget request were that it will include increases in special education and mental health funding:
“We are clear-eyed about the realities economic challenges will play in state budget decisions. However, it is my hope our leaders can and will continue to prioritize public education and the needs of our most vulnerable learners. To that end, the biennial budget, which I plan to submit to the governor, will be grounded in educational equity, and seek the resources all schools need to provide each child a quality education. For example:
- While every family has struggled during this pandemic, extended school closures have been particularly devastating for students with special needs and their families. As districts work to provide special education services in this unprecedented environment, our leaders must ensure schools have the funding needed to meet their requirements under law. Before the pandemic, districts’ unfunded special education costs already exceeded $1 billion – a funding gap affecting all students. That is why I will be proposing an increase to the Special Education Categorical Aid.
- I will also be requesting an increase in funding for our mental health services. Wisconsin leaders have long recognized the need for greater investment in school-based mental health services. With at least one in five students facing a mental health issue and nearly 60% of high school students self-reporting significant mental health needs before the extended school closures, we know the need for mental health services will be substantially greater as students grapple with the effects of this pandemic.” (emphasis added)
You can read the text of the entire speech HERE.
You can view a video recording of the entire speech HERE.
