Rep. Robyn Vining Highlights Risk of Losing Federal Funding for K-12 Education in Wisconsin

MADISON – Yesterday, a memo by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau stated that Wisconsin was at risk of not qualifying for $2.3 billion of federal funding for K-12 education, after the U.S. Department of Education previously stated that the amount would be $1.5 billion. This is due to the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Finance not allocating enough funds for K-12 education in the state budget to qualify for the federal funding, if the budget is signed into law. State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) issued the following statement in response: 

“The GOP proposal that passed on party lines by the Joint Committee on Finance provides less than 10% of the K-12 education funding proposed by Governor Evers, which will not only deeply affect all three legs of the stool that is Wisconsin K-12 education funding (special education, mental health, and meeting the changing demographics and unique needs of school districts around the state), but also puts the state at risk of losing $2.3 billion of federal funding. Previously, that number was $1.5 billion.  

“The argument Republican members of JFC had used to support their decision to underfund K-12 education was because we could rely on the federal, one-time funding that is tied to the pandemic emergency. I was concerned by this approach at the time, since this is not how responsible, sustainable, long-term budgets are written. But now knowing we are poised to lose out on billions of this federal funding altogether is jarring, and using our children as political footballs is wholly unacceptable.”

Rep. Vining represents the 14th Assembly District, which includes parts of Brookfield, Wauwatosa, and Milwaukee. For more information, visit Rep. Vining’s website here. 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.