Overview
The School Financial Services (SFS) team collects detailed Fund 27 data through WISEdata Finance (WDF) and, previously, through the Special Education Annual Report in the 1505-SE. Previous year reports may still be accessed in the SAFR reporting portal. Special education data is used to determine payment of state special education categorical aid (SPED) and to monitor compliance with the IDEA Maintenance of Effort requirements.
Instructions for Completing the Special Education Reports
WISEdata Finance is Wisconsin's next-generation financial reporting system for school districts and other local education agencies (LEAs) to push financial data to DPI. The Wisconsin School Finance Portal (WiSFiP) is the current platform for all school finance reporting and is being developed and expanded in conjunction with WISEdata Finance, as reports in the existing SAFR portal are retired.
The deadline for reporting FY2024-25 special education expenses in WISEdata Finance is October 17, 2025 Data must be certified and submitted on or before Friday, October 17, 2025, to be considered eligible for the FY2025 state categorical special education aid payment on November 17, 2025.
New User Training: WISEdata Portal Navigation & WISEdata Basics
WISEdata Finance and Financial Reporting for ICS presentation includes instructions for resolving data validations.
Independent Charter School Training on how to enter data into the Special Education Module.
- Technical assistance for accessing data in the Special Education Annual Report (Click Here To Open)
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- Pupil Services Personnel Eligibility - LEAs will be contacted directly regarding PSPE amounts to be resolved. This will be an upcoming feature of your data reporting in WISEdata Finance.
- School Age Parents Expenditures
Subscribe to the School Finance Bulletin for reporting updates and deadlines.
Register for the WISEdata Finance and Financial Reporting Podcast for important special education data updates.
The School Financial Services team has updated the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year at a Glance document which includes all mandatory district financial and non-financial reports as well as other optional reports.
Create your Fund 27 aid estimate/expenditure report from WISEdata reporting.
Additional Resources
Pupil Services Personnel Eligibility (formerly known as Act 221) Addendum Workbook
Excel workbook to prepare required data for the Pupil Services Personnel Eligibility addendum .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Special Education Reports
Additional information on entering special education data in the 1505-SE and WISEdata Finance.
WUFAR Resources
- FY2025-26 Fund 27 WUFAR Revisions
- Fund 27 Chart of Accounts 2025-26
- Fund 27 CoA Power Point Presentation
- Subscribe to the School Finance Bulletin for reporting updates and deadlines.
Schedule a time to meet with Rick Cruz virtually.
Independent Charter Schools (ICS)
Independent charter schools report their special education costs through WISEdata Finance (WDF).
Resources:
Non-Instrumentality Charter Schools (NICS)
Non-Intsrumentality Charter Schools are subject to the same manual audit program modification as districts, put into place due to ongoing challenges with ELO and staff reporting.
Non-instrumentality charter schools have special education expenses reported by their contracting districts. The sample spreadsheet claim form (below) is available for these schools to use in developing their expense submissions to districts. The NICS worksheet for prior year expenditures is due to the authorizer prior to submitting data for special education reporting in October.
Non-Instrumentality Charter School (NICS) Special Education Licensing and Cost Workbook