Friday, January 16, 2026
Special Education Prorated Aid Rate and January Payment Information – Third FY2026 Aid Payment for FY2025 Expenditures
The amounts for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, payment of Special Education and School-Age Parents categorical aid, the third 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.
Corrections and Additions
The Wisconsin School Finance Portal (WiSFiP) is open for updates and revisions through Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 4:00pm. FY2025-26 Categorical Aid payment file can be found on the SFS Team web site on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
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.
Second Friday January Pupil Count Due Date and Membership Audits
The Second Friday in January Pupil Count Report is due January 23, 2026. Detailed guidance on submitting the report is provided on this page of the DPI website. Questions about the report should be directed to Kathy Fry, School Administration Consultant, at 608-224-5343.
Membership audits are required by Wis. Stat. §115.28(18) for at least 25 percent of school districts each year. Under this random selection method, all districts will be audited at least once every four years. Districts with audit findings, late January pupil count and summer school fee issues are added to the list.
Please be sure the individual(s) who completes the PI-1563 January Pupil Count Report for your district is aware of this deadline.
PI-1563-CA Report – Second Semester 2025-26 Now Open
The PI-1563-CA (Challenge Academy) report is ready for district data entry. The report will be due on Friday, February 27th. Districts can access this report from the School Financial Services home page at https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/reporting/safr/overview. by selecting the "School Finance Reporting Portal" link and then "Log In to View or Submit Data" link. After logging in, from the district's home page, you may select either the "Status or Due Dates" or the "Non-Financial Data Home" link to access the PI-1563-CA (January) Challenge Academy Report. Please note if you disagree that a pupil identified is your resident student, please reconcile with the Challenge Academy at Fort McCoy.
If you have questions, please contact kathleen.fry@dpi.wi.gov or (608) 224-5343.