Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its annual estimates for general school aids

On July 1, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its annual estimates for general school aids for the 2026-27 fiscal year. This announcement arrives against the backdrop of a second consecutive year of flat state funding, with the general aid appropriation remaining at $5.58 billion for the third year in a row.

State law mandates this annual release, which provides school districts with necessary projections as they prepare their fiscal year budgets. Because there has been no increase in the state’s general school aid appropriation in the 2025-27 biennial budget, the state will redistribute the existing funding among districts using the established equalization aid formula.
The data released indicates that 59.9 percent of Wisconsin’s school districts, totaling 252, are projected to receive less general aid for 2026-27 compared to the 2025-26 school year. Conversely, 38 percent of districts, or 160, are estimated to see an increase, while nine districts are expected to experience no change in their aid levels. Among those seeing a decrease, 92 districts are projected to reach the maximum 15 percent reduction allowed under the state’s hold harmless aid provision.

General school aids serve as the primary form of state support for Wisconsin public schools, helping to offset local property taxes within state-imposed revenue limits. A district’s aid eligibility is determined by changes in state funding availability and local factors, including property valuation, student enrollment, and shared costs.

The DPI will certify the final general school aid amounts on October 15, 2026, based on actual data from the 2025-26 school year. These July 1 estimates do not include per-pupil categorical aid, which remains set at $742 per student under current law and will be paid in March 2027.