Institute for Wisconsin's Future Costing-Out Study Calls for 32% Increase in School Funding

In June 2002, the Wisconsin pubic-interest policy organization, IWF, issued "Funding Our Future: An Adequacy Model for Wisconsin School Finance." IWF performed a comprehensive costing-out study of school funding in Wisconsin, based on the "professional judgment" methodology. Funding Our Future reports that an increase of 32% in annual statewide funding for education is necessary to provide Wisconsin students the opportunity to obtain a "sound, basic education," also termed an "adequate" education.

Relying on the state's Model Academic Standards for students, the study, first, determined the resources schools need (such as staff, programs and equipment) to be able to educate their students to meet the state's standards and, then, calculated the costs of those resources. The study's resource structure includes: small schools; small class sizes; a broad curriculum, including art and music; higher pay and ongoing training for staff; and pre-school and enrichment programs for low-income children. The proposed Adequacy Model would restructure funding by ensuring a foundation level of $8,500 per pupil, plus full reimbursement of special education costs (from the state/federal governments) and adjustments for regional costs, low-income students, and rural districts. IWF concludes that an adequacy structure could be implemented immediately with funding increases phased in over a number of years.

Prepared June 2002