Rep. Vining Introduces “Save Our Schools” Legislation

MADISON–Yesterday, State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa), State Representative Francesca Hong (D-Madison), and State Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison) introduced a “Save our Schools” bill to provide needed resources to Wisconsin’s public schools. State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) released the following statement:

“Every Wisconsin child has a constitutional right to an adequately funded public education. Despite what was touted as historic funding levels for public schools during the 2023-2025 state budget process, Wisconsin continues to provide school districts with inadequate sustainable funding. Wisconsin is predicted to have a $3.5 billion surplus by 2025, largely due to the consistent underfunding of our public schools. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Wisconsin schools would have seen upwards of $2.6 billion in additional state funding since 2009 if per-pupil funding were still indexed to inflation.

“As the legislature has failed to adequately fund public schools, school districts around Wisconsin are increasingly relying on referenda to cover their budget gaps. In 2023, referendum-approved spending totaled $650 million, and this spring there are 90 proposed referendums across Wisconsin to fund our underfunded schools. While Wisconsinites want to save their schools, these referendums are a referendum on this legislature. The legislature has not adequately funded public schools and has left Wisconsin families to raise their own taxes to save their schools. Wisconsin families shouldn’t have to do this.

“That is why we introduced the Save Our Schools bill to do just that–Save Our Schools. This bill includes more funding for special education, more state funding for our students, and grants to get more qualified teachers into our classrooms.

“Public schools are the heart of our communities, and investing in our public schools is important because we know that what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state. This bill ensures that our public schools have the funding and staffing necessary to provide Wisconsin students with the quality, constitutionally guaranteed education they deserve. It is time to finally fund our underfunded public schools so we can move Wisconsin forward, together.”

Rep. Vining represents the 14th Assembly District, which includes parts of Wauwatosa and West Allis. 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.