Federal Funding for Wisconsin Schools at Risk — What You Need to Know
Funding and continued support from the U.S. Department of Education is vital for our schools and learners in Wisconsin. As we navigate challenges in recent weeks driven by developments in K-12 education at the federal level, we want to update you with information and resources to help answer questions and concerns you may be getting from your communities.
What’s at Stake in Wisconsin?
Recent Executive Orders from President Trump and ongoing discussions about potentially dismantling the U.S. Department of Education put critical federal funding and programming in jeopardy. The uncertainty surrounding these decisions means it is more important than ever to advocate for the stability and continued support of federal funding for our schools.
Wisconsin is receiving $841,878,833 in federal funding from the USDE (FY 25 allocations) and USDA (FY 24 expenditures reimbursements). This total does not include Pell grants, Impact Aids and other sources.
The $841 million includes:
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School meals
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Title funds to support vulnerable learners
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IDEA funds for students with IEPs
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Funding for youth mental health programs
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Support for English language learners
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Academic enrichment programming
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Career and technical education
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Out-of-school-time programs
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Professional learning for educators and administrators
Programs that are not forward funded, such as school nutrition and impact aid, are particularly vulnerable. Federal budget negotiations, to begin in March, will determine the availability of federal funds for the 2025-26 school year. This process will determine the future of federal education funding.
Current Status as of Feb. 14
The Trump administration is currently prohibited by court order from enforcing any pause or termination of lawfully appropriated federal funds. This includes funds appropriated to your districts. Earlier this week, a federal appeals court declined to overturn that order. However, things could change quickly if the Trump administration is successful in court.
The DPI is actively monitoring all sources of school district federal funds to ensure the Trump administration is complying with its obligations. If you receive any communication from a federal agency that indicates current funding obligations are or are soon to be paused or terminated, please notify the DPI’s general legal counsel immediately at Benjamin.Jones@dpi.wi.gov.
What Can School Leaders and Communities Do?
State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly and the DPI are actively working with state agencies, national organizations, and federal representatives to ensure the continued support of Wisconsin's students, schools, and libraries. We remain vigilant and will share updates as soon as we have new information.
It’s crucial that lawmakers and the public understand the stakes involved.
We encourage you to reach out to members of Congress, state legislators, and your local communities to share how federal funding has made a direct and meaningful impact on your students, programs, and schools.
We also invite you to share your own stories, whether through videos, photos, personal experiences, or data-driven examples, to help us highlight the real effects these funds have on teaching and learning. Please send your submissions to Christopher.Bucher@dpi.wi.gov.
By sharing these powerful, firsthand accounts, we can showcase the critical role federal funding plays in supporting Wisconsin’s students and communities. Your contributions will help us demonstrate the lasting value of these resources.
Communicating with Your Community
To help you explain the potential consequences of the federal government's actions, we’ve provided resources for communicating with your communities.
- Many federal grants, including Title I and IDEA, are authorized by federal law. Congress determines the specific amounts during the budget process. These funds are distributed to state departments of education (DPI) and school districts based on formulas or competition. There are also direct aid programs that go directly to school districts, like impact aid programs that cannot generate property tax income, such as districts on Tribal reservation land.
- Some funding is forward-funded, meaning it’s available for use starting July 1 of each fiscal year. This allows school districts to plan and use funds through the fiscal year’s end.
- Funding for federal formula programs and discretionary grants, as previously appropriated by Congress, remains intact and is currently law.
Available Resources
To help inform your school boards, staff, families, and communities about the importance of federal education funds, the DPI has created a presentation you can customize. This slide deck details the federal grant award process, the funding Wisconsin receives, and how it impacts local education. It also includes instructions on how to display the amount of funding your LEA receives and the impact of those federal education funds. We encourage you to copy this slide deck, adapt it for your community, and share it with audiences you find appropriate.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Wisconsin’s students. Together, we can ensure that our schools have the resources they need to thrive.