55 Percent Of Wisconsin Public School Districts Could Face Budget Cuts, Says DPI

The state Department of Public Instruction says 55 percent of Wisconsin’s public school districts stand to lose money in the coming two-year budget.

Overall spending has not been cut: Nearly $4.5 billion in state general aid will go to Wisconsin schools. However, the share of that going toward public schools is down by roughly $130 million due to voucher diversion, according to the DPI.

Specifically, 234 school districts will have their budgets cut, while 188 districts — 44 percent — will get increases. Two districts will see no change.

General aid is based on a formula that includes a district’s per-student spending and property values. Low-income districts typically get more aid. Districts also rely on local property taxes for funding.

Critics of private school vouchers have raised concerns that voucher school teachers and students are not held to the same standards as those in the public system.