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ESSER Funds & 2023-25 State Budget Update

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | June 6, 2023

ESSER Funds Update from DPI:

Education partners, DPI is pleased to share the attached information sent by the US Department of Education confirming that the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which suspended the Federal debt ceiling, does not impact formula-driven COVID-19 relief funds awarded under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program, the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) program, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) program, or the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) program. LEAs should continue to spend and claim these funds according to their DPI approved budgets and plans by their federal deadlines (September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2024).

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and COVID 19 Relief Funds Letter

Budget Update:

The Joint Finance Committee is only meeting on Thursday this week.  Generally, most budgets are completed by the July 1st deadline.  Governor Evers’ first two budgets were passed by the Committee on June 11, 2019, and June 17, 2021.

The 2023-25 budget appears to be moving at a slower pace than most budgets in the last few decades.  Major items, like K-12 spending are being held up due to negotiations on shared revenue (funding for local governments).

Twice in the past 20 years the committee has completed its work by now, once in 2013 under Gov. Scoot Walker it finished June 4th after a grueling all-night session.  Two budgets in the past 20 years were unable to advance the bill out of committee by June 30th.  In 2015, JFC sent the budget to both houses on July 2nd. In 2017, disagreements between the houses, largely related to the amount of bonding to spend on transportation kept the bill in JFC until September 5th.

Additional updates will be forthcoming – please use this time to reach out to your legislators to express the needs of your school district and the impact significant investments in general, flexible, spendable aid, special education aid and mental health would have on your school district.

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