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JCF-approved budget provides no new school aids, ignores calls for increased special education reimbursement, cuts critical youth mental health support
MADISON — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today issued the following statement in response to GOP lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Finance approving a budget motion that once again fails Wisconsin’s students, educators, and public schools.
“For months, parents, teachers, school leaders, and community members from every part of Wisconsin showed up at listening sessions, through letters, calls and emails all asking for the same thing: meaningful investment in our kids. Lawmakers had every opportunity to listen. Instead, they chose to outright ignore those voices.
"The budget they approved raises your property taxes, doesn’t support students with disabilities and cuts youth mental health funding — all at a time when more kids than ever are struggling, and schools are stretched thin. This isn’t ‘right-sizing.’ It’s irresponsible. It puts politics ahead of kids and disregards educators and public schools when they need support the most.
"Our public schools desperately need and deserve funding that is flexible, spendable and predictable. This budget fails to deliver on all three. Once again, those in power had an opportunity to do right by Wisconsin’s children — and once again, they turned their backs on them. Our kids, our teachers, and our communities deserve far better.”
NOTE: An official photo of Dr. Underly is available on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's website.
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Contact: Media.Inquiries@dpi.wi.gov
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