Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The children, families, and communities of Wisconsin deserve the best public education and library systems in the country. We need robust and ongoing investment. The biennial budget Gov. Tony Evers has put forward directly meets the growing needs of Wisconsin's students, families, educators, schools, and libraries. Fill out a public comment to make sure your voice and priorities are heard!
Submit a public comment!
As you know all too well, this is a critical time for our public schools and libraries. Your opinion isn’t just helpful — it’s absolutely paramount. We know you’re busy after work hours, but if you are able to take the time, we want to make sure you know that your voice matters!
You can submit a public comment through an online public comment form and express the need for additional support to our public schools and libraries. Additionally, you can attend a public listening session, organized by the Joint Committee on Finance or leave a public comment for the hearing scheduled nearest you. These sessions will be held throughout April in Waukesha, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Dells and Minocqua. You can see a full calendar of listening session dates and locations on the Joint Committee on Finance's website. Again, we know you’re busy, and taking time outside of work is tough, so keep in mind that encouraging friends and family to make their voices heard is also helpful!
Whether you intend to testify at one of the listening sessions, submit a public comment, or encourage others to do so, here are some suggestions to develop your comments:
- Try to tell your individual story up front. Example: “I am a middle school special education teacher in Menominee and I’m commenting to express support of greater investment in special education resources for our kids.”
- How has the current budget impacted your ability to do your job? What would new investment help you do? What students/patrons/taxpayers would be directly impacted and how?
- Include details, stories, statistics that back up your claims.
- Expand on challenges you currently face as an educator, and also include visions for what can be done better with budgetary improvements.
For more information on Gov. Evers’ budget request as it relates to K-12 public education and public libraries, check out and share these resources the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction created:
- Meeting the Needs of Wisconsin Students, Educators, Schools, & Libraries: More information on the governor's overall budget proposal as it relates to K-12 schools and public libraries.
- Mental Health: More information on the governor's budget proposal as it relates to student mental health.
- Nutrition: More information on the governor's budget proposal as it relates to school nutrition.
- Special Education: More information on the governor's budget proposal as it relates to special education.
- Strong Foundations: More information on the governor's budget proposal as it relates to establishing strong foundations of learning.
- Teacher Workforce: More information on the governor's budget proposal as it relates to the teacher workforce.
You can also find more information on the 2023-25 biennial budget on the DPI’s Policy, Budget, and Research webpage.
What is the biennial budget process?
Every two years, the state of Wisconsin creates a biennial budget. That budget is a process; a negotiation about how the state delivers on its promises to its citizens. In September 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, along with other state agencies, submitted its 2023-25 budget request. This request includes specific information on how state aid is allocated over the next two years. Following the DPI's submission of budget proposals, Gov. Evers' budget incorporated a majority of the DPI's request, calling for historic investments in K-12 public education and supporting students, families, and educators through provisions in mental health, special education, nutrition, and much more. Gov. Evers' budget is now in the hands of the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance, which goes through each provision and either keeps it, eliminates it, or replaces it altogether at the legislative group's discretion.