Bill > AB649

This bill provides supplemental funding for three specific education-related initiatives in fiscal year 2026. First, the bill allocates $250,000 to reimburse school boards for the costs of conducting feasibility studies related to school district consolidation or whole grade sharing, which involves multiple school districts sharing students across certain grade levels. Second, it provides $2,700,000 in grants to school boards that establish whole grade sharing agreements, encouraging collaborative approaches to educational resource management. Third, the bill earmarks $3,000,000 in additional state aid for consolidated school districts where the new district's maximum allowable tax levy rate is higher than the lowest levy rate of the original districts that were merged. The Department of Public Instruction is required to submit a request to the Joint Committee on Finance by July 1, 2026, to supplement these appropriations through the committee's supplemental appropriation account. These funding provisions aim to support school districts in exploring and implementing cost-effective collaboration and consolidation strategies.

Education

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab649