Friday, January 9, 2026
January Count Date is Today - Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
If school is not held on January 9th, an alternate count date will be needed:
- If your district has a scheduled “no school” day on January 9, per state statute the alternate count date is the third weekday following the next school day in session. For example, if the next school day is Monday, January 12, then the alternate count date would be Thursday, January 15. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/121.05(3m)
- If school is not held on January 9 due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you will need to request an alternate count date from the SFS Team. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/121.05(3)
In either case, contact Kathy Fry as soon as possible if your district needs an alternate count date. Be sure to include in your message the district, explanation, required or requested alternate date, and the contact person for your district.
More information on alternate count dates is available on our Membership Information and Reporting webpage https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/children/enrollment/membership-info-reporting#Alternate.
As a reminder, no special flexibility is required for districts to count students who are being served with virtual or blended instructional models on or around the count date. Also, a student may only be counted once in the pupil count process whether at a public district school, independent charter school or private choice school.
Reminder for District Administrators on Reorganization Requests (Specifically Detachment and Attachment of Small Territory Initiated by Owner)
There are several processes that relate to reorganizing and boundary changes of school districts. More information can be found on the DPI’s website on the School District Reorganization page.
This is a reminder on the process of Reorganization-Detachment and Attachment of Small Territory Initiated by Owner, as summarized in Wis. Stats. 117.12(2). A small territory, owner-initiated petition may be filed by either a majority of the electors residing in the territory proposed to be detached or the owners of 50 percent or more of the territory proposed to be detached, as measured by the territory's assessed valuation divided by its assessment ratio.
Process Due Prior to February 1
Petitions for the detachment and attachment of any small territory must be filed before February 1st with the clerk of the school district to which the territory is currently attached. The petition must include a description of the parcel or territory proposed for detachment. This description must be sufficiently accurate to determine its location in the school district in which it is located, as certified by the clerk of each town, village or city within which all or part of the parcel or territory is located. The petition must also state the number of pupils residing in the territory who were enrolled in the district to which the territory is currently attached, as certified by the district clerk (use the most recent third Friday in September or second Friday in January count).
The petition should be filed personally or mailed directly to the clerk of the school district to which the territory is currently attached.
Appeals of School Board Decision to Deny Detachment are Due Prior to March 15.
Appeals of School Board decisions on small boundary detachments and attachments are due to the DPI prior to March 15. The School District Boundary Appeal Board consists of a three-member board with one member each from a small, medium, and large district. Each CESA has a representative that serves a two-year term. The Evaluation Criteria for School District Reorganization explains factors that should be considered when assessing the effect of the reorganization on the affected school districts.
If you would like to discuss this topic further, please contact Kathy Fry, SFS School Administration Consultant.
2025-26 Common School Fund (Library Aid) Amounts
Aid for school libraries from the Common School Fund in the 2025-26 school year will be approximately $65.39 per census student. This amount is based upon the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands informing DPI the allocation will be $73.5 million for the April 2026 payment.
Amounts per district will soon be available on the Common School Fund page under “Library Aid Paid (by School Year)”. Payments to districts will be made by April 24, 2026. Funds must either be used in the fiscal year received or allocated as restricted fund balance (WUFAR account 10 B 936130).
Information on Common School Fund purchasing guidelines is available from the DPI Office of Literacy. Specific questions can be directed to Monica Treptow, School Library Media Education Consultant.
For questions about this information, contact dpifin or Kathy Fry.