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Bill > SB852


WI SB852

WI SB852
The reimbursement rate for special education costs and school age parents programs and making an appropriation. (FE)


summary

Introduced
01/15/2026
In Committee
01/15/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill changes the rate at which the state reimburses school boards, operators of independent charter schools, cooperative educational service agencies (CESAs), and county children with disabilities education boards (CCDEBs) for costs incurred to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities and for school age parents programs (eligible costs). Under current law, the state reimburses the full cost of special education for children in hospitals and convalescent homes for orthopedically disabled children. After those costs are paid, the state reimburses remaining eligible costs from the amount remaining in the appropriation account at a rate that distributes the full amount appropriated. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the reimbursement rate will be 42 percent in the 2025-26 school year and 45 percent in the 2026-27 school year. The bill changes the appropriation to a sum sufficient and provides that, in the 2025-26 school year, after full payment of hospital and convalescent home costs, the remaining costs are reimbursed at 42 percent of eligible costs, and in the 2026- 27 school year and each school year thereafter, after full payment of hospital and convalescent home costs, the remaining costs are reimbursed at 45 percent of eligible costs. LRB-5695/1 KMS:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 852 Currently, DPI provides 1) special education aid to school districts, independent charter schools, CESAs, and CCDEBs; 2) aid to school districts, CESAs, and CCDEBs for providing physical or mental health treatment services to private school and tribal school pupils; and 3) aid for school age parents programs to school districts only. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill changes how the state reimburses certain educational entities for special education costs and programs for school-age parents, shifting from a flexible appropriation to a "sum sufficient" model, which means the state will cover whatever the costs are. Specifically, for the 2025-26 school year, after fully covering the costs for special education for children in hospitals and convalescent homes, the state will reimburse 42 percent of other eligible special education and school-age parent program costs for school boards, independent charter schools, cooperative educational service agencies (CESAs), and county children with disabilities education boards (CCDEBs). For the 2026-27 school year and beyond, this reimbursement rate will increase to 45 percent of eligible costs.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (59)

Tim Carpenter (D)* Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D)* Dora Drake (D)* Jodi Habush Sinykin (D)* Dianne Hesselbein (D)* LaTonya Johnson (D)* Sarah Keyeski (D)* Chris Larson (D)* Brad Pfaff (D)* Melissa Ratcliff (D)* Kelda Roys (D)* Jeff Smith (D)* Mark Spreitzer (D)* Jamie Wall (D)* Bob Wirch (D)* Clint Anderson (D),  Deb Andraca (D),  Margaret Arney (D),  Mike Bare (D),  Jill Billings (D),  Brienne Brown (D),  Ryan Clancy (D),  Angelina Cruz (D),  Karen DeSanto (D),  Ben DeSmidt (D),  Steve Doyle (D),  Jodene Emerson (D),  Joan Fitzgerald (D),  Russell Goodwin (D),  Kalan Haywood (D),  Francesca Hong (D),  Andrew Hysell (D),  Jenna Jacobson (D),  Alex Joers (D),  Tara Johnson (D),  Karen Kirsch (D),  Darrin Madison (D),  Renuka Mayadev (D),  Maureen McCarville (D),  Tip McGuire (D),  Vincent Miresse (D),  Supreme Moore Omokunde (D),  Greta Neubauer (D),  Lori Palmeri (D),  Christian Phelps (D),  Pricilla Prado (D),  Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D),  Ann Roe (D),  Joe Sheehan (D),  Christine Sinicki (D),  Lee Snodgrass (D),  Ryan Spaude (D),  Angela Stroud (D),  Shelia Stubbs (D),  Lisa Subeck (D),  Sequanna Taylor (D),  Angelito Tenorio (D),  Randy Udell (D),  Robyn Vining (D), 

Last Action

Fiscal estimate received (on 02/10/2026)

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