Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin public school districts would receive the full special education reimbursement rate lawmakers pledged in the state budget under a new bill from Democratic legislators. The proposal comes after school districts learned they will receive a lower reimbursement rate for special education costs this year than anticipated. In an email sent to school officials Nov. 17, the Department of Public Instruction said the state will reimburse school districts at an initial rate of 35% of their special education costs from last school year – down from the rate specified in the current state budget. Under a compromise with Republican leaders, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers included in the state budget a 42% reimbursement rate this year and 45% next year. The previous rate was around 32%. A new bill authored by Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine, and Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick, would require the state to pay for special education costs at the full rates set in the budget – known as a sum sufficient appropriation – rather than capping reimbursements when total claims exceed the budgeted amount.