Signs bill providing additional funding to rural school districts as part of his Ambitious Agenda for 2018

MADISON – Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 835 into law Monday which directs more money to Wisconsin’s rural schools through Sparsity Aid. This bill will provide an estimated$17,384 in additional Sparsity Aid to White Lake School District and $35,493 in additional Sparsity Aid to Elcho School District in FY19 than in FY18. This funding is on top of Governor Walker’s historic $11.5 billion investment in education included in the 2017 – 19 state budget.

“Wisconsin’s rural school districts face unique challenges, and by signing this legislation today we are providing additional resources for these districts to create unique solutions to match these challenges,” said Governor Walker. “We are prioritizing student success in every corner of Wisconsin, and by providing additional funding for rural schools on top of our historic investment in education, we are ensuring that every child, regardless of what district they reside in, can receive a quality education.”

Assembly Bill 835 – This bill helps low-population school districts by modifying the sparsity categorical aid program for school districts and the revenue limit ceiling for school districts. The bill increases the per-pupil sparsity amount from $300 to $400 beginning in fiscal year 2018-19 and appropriates $6,454,600 GPR to fund this increase.  This will benefit an estimated 144 school districts. The bill would increase the low revenue ceiling from $9,100 to $9,400 in 2018-19, $9,500 in 2019-20, $9,600 in 2020-21, $9,700 in 2021-22 and $9,800 in 2022-23.  Currently, 107 school districts have per pupil revenue base amounts of less than $9,400, and therefore may be eligible for the low revenue ceiling adjustment in 2018-19.

Authored by Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette), Representative Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz), the bill passed the Assembly on a vote of 90-3 and was concurred in the Senate on a vote of 31-1. It is Act 141.