Senate Bill 603 proposes a significant change to the calculation of per pupil aid for school districts in Wisconsin. Currently, the per pupil aid is a fixed amount of $742 for the 2025-26 school year, calculated based on a three-year average of student enrollment. The bill seeks to repeal and recreate the existing statute regarding per pupil aid, specifically section 115.437 (2) (b), to modify how the per pupil amount is determined starting in the 2026-27 school year.

Under the new provisions, the per pupil amount for school districts will be calculated as the previous year's per pupil amount plus any increase in the per pupil amount paid to private schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program for high school students. This adjustment will only apply if the change is positive, thereby linking public school funding more closely to the funding levels of private schools in the choice program. This change aims to create a more dynamic funding model that reflects the financial landscape of both public and private education in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 115.437(2)(b), 115.437