Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Wisconsin public school libraries will receive a record-breaking $73.5 million from the Common School Fund this year—an increase of $3.5 million over last year’s distribution. This marks the largest annual distribution in the fund’s history.
Licensed library media specialists will intentionally and effectively use these funds to purchase books, digital resources, and technology, as well as support makerspaces that encourage STEAM-learning. All materials are selected to align with the district’s board-approved library plan. For many districts, the Common School Fund is the primary—and sometimes the only—dedicated source of funding for school libraries.
The Common School Fund was established in 1848 under the Wisconsin Constitution. At the time, approximately 1.5 million acres of land were granted for the support of public education. The vast majority of this land was sold to create the principal for the permanent school fund, with investment earnings designated exclusively to support “common schools,” now known as K-12 public schools.
Today, the fund has grown into a $1.6 billion trust administered by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, which manages investments. Continued growth in the trust has led to increased net earnings resulting in annual distributions to public schools.