Wisconsin Gov.Tony Evers is proposing more than $3.15 billion in public school investments to highlight the “Year of the Kid.”
The new investments, part of the governor’s 2025-27 Executive Budget proposal, will emphasize public education as a significant priority for the state’s long-term success. Building upon the governor’s “Year of the Kid” initiative announced last month, the new budget will prioritize tax relief for middle-class families and homeowners while making historic investments in all levels of public education.
“Every Wisconsin kid should have access to a high-quality public education from early childhood to our K-12 schools to our higher education institutions,” Gov. Evers said. “In 2025 the Year of the Kid, I’m urging the Legislature to do what’s best for our kids by approving significant investments in public education at every level in Wisconsin.”
The budget will be delivered to Wisconsin lawmakers, who will evaluate and revise the proposal. If approved, the final legislation would be enacted on the next budget period July 1, seeking to improve student success in and out of school.
While the state’s K-12 schools rank in the top 10 nationally, according to the governor, the proposal includes the largest direct investment for state general school aid in the past 30 years.
Under the budget, K-12 public schools around the state would have access to more than $3.1 billion in general and categorical aid and an increase of $375 million in school levy tax credits for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 property tax years. $1.2 billion of this funding would be directed to school districts for general equalization aid, which could be used for unrestricted projects.
The proposal would also support several equity and accessibility initiatives at underfunded and rural districts by lowering revenue ceilings for lower-spending school districts, adjusting funding equalization aid formulas and investing more than $20 million in sparsity aid for Wisconsin’s rural schools.
Reinforcing new and experienced teacher pipelines is also emphasized under the new budget, looking to address the rapid turnover rate of Wisconsin teachers statewide.
The budget also seeks to address teacher shortages by investing nearly $22 million to recruit, train and retain educators. That includes:
$9 million for student teacher stipends
$5 million for training and development initiatives
$3.8 million in stipends for teachers who agree to oversee student teachers or interns
The governor’s proposal will also provide opportunities for school districts to hire retired educators under certain circumstances to maintain small class sizes and improve student experiences.
The budget is advocating $856 million in funding to support the University of Wisconsin (UW) System for the 2025-27 biennium. Some of the largest portions of this investment include:
$308 million to expand pathways for students to enroll, admit or transfer to excellent state higher education institutions
$222 million to increase faculty wages, improve recruiting efforts and retain experienced educators and staff
$104.3 million for innovative technologies, including classroom applications, digital programs, artificial intelligence research and staffing, curriculum development, pedagogical enhancements around artificial intelligence and research infrastructure
Wisconsin’s proposed investment in higher education would also support the state’s technical college system, which plays a vital role in recruiting, training and retaining high-skilled workers. The budget includes:
$45 million in general aid for technical colleges
$10 million to integrate artificial intelligence into technical education
$3 million in grants to develop open educational resources, such as textbooks and digital materials
Over the next few months, Gov. Evers will introduce a capital budget proposal to outline forecasted spending for capital and infrastructure projects. The Joint Finance Committee will review the revised budget before presenting the legislation to both houses. The budget must be approved before July 1 to take effect.
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