Monday, November 17, 2025
Special Education Prorated Aid Rate and November Payment Information – First FY2026 Aid Payment for FY2024-25 Expenditures
The amounts for November 17, 2025, payment of Special Education and School-Age Parents categorical aid, the first payment of the year, have been determined. This year’s November through March interim payments will use a proration rate of 35.00%. A slightly lower rate is used for these payments to avoid overpayment; the final payment in June 2026 will reflect each LEA’s full aid eligibility at the year’s final proration rate.
State Budget Bill Analysis Versus Rates Based on Actual Cost
When the state budget bill is enacted, aid percentages are based on Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates for the reimbursement rate, as data for the prior year has not been submitted. School Financial Services calculates the prorated aid rates using actual expenditures and revenues submitted through the annual reporting and addenda. State categorical special education aid is a sum-certain appropriation as determined by the legislature, which means that it is paid from a fixed pot of money. When the total claims for an aid program exceed the appropriation, aid payments are prorated as a percentage of claims and, in some cases, the overall reimbursement rate is lower than originally estimated by the Legislature.
DPI School Financial Services calculates the actual aid rate only after LEAs, CESAs, CDEBs, and Independent Charter Schools have finalized their data to DPI based on their annual reporting. The actual aid rate is calculated against total deductible expenditures submitted to determine aid payments. An entity can also use this School Financial Services resource to Create a Fund 27 aid estimate/expenditure report from WISEdata reporting.
Corrections and Additions
The Wisconsin School Finance Portal (WiSFiP) is open for updates and revisions through Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 4:00pm. The FY2025-26 Categorical Aid payment file can be found on the SFS Team web site on Monday, November 17, 2025.
Please remember to complete the S5 Addendum - SPED Payments In if you have deductible receipts to report. This only applies to agencies where the S5 Addendum appears under the Validations Addenda tab in WISEdata Finance.
Please book time with Rick Cruz or contact at ricardo.cruz@dpi.wi.gov or 608-266-8255 with questions.
2025-2026 Budget Report – Due December 5, 2025
Please ensure the district’s 2025-26 Budget data has been pushed to WISEdata Finance and then work through the Budget Report Module in WiSFiP. Address any validations or addenda prior to certifying any board approved budget. More information pertaining to the Budget and Adoption Process can be found on the DPI Website.