Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 11/19/2020 - 6:30 PM
Category: Reports and Communications from the Board Clerk/Chief Officer, Office of Board Governance
Type: Info
Subject: 1. Update on Legislative Matters or Related Issues Concerning Milwaukee Public Schools.
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
Goal 2
Student, Family and Community Engagement
Goal 3
Effective and Efficient Operations
Policy:
Attachments
File Attachment:
2021-23 DPI Biennial_Budget_Request_FULL_November_9_2020.pdf
Background: Joe Biden has been elected President of the United State of America.

Kamala Harris has been elected Vice President of the United States of America.

The Democratic Party controls a majority of seats in The House of Representatives. Republicans currently retain control of the U.S. Senate; however, there will be a run-off election in Georgia for two U.S. Senate seats.

As of this writing, progress has not been made on a federal-level pandemic relief package, though a package could be enacted as soon as February of 2021.

The Wisconsin State Legislature last met as a body on April 15, 2020.

On November 9, Stanford-Taylor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) introduced a $1.4 billion budget proposal to fund K-12 public education in the upcoming biennium.

The State Superintendent has proposed a budget that clearly and strongly supports her equity agenda. Her budget creates a new funding policy for students challenged by poverty; increases the reimbursement rate for students with disabilities to 40% over the next two years, with a goal of reaching a 60% rate within the next four years; and increases support for English-learner students by $18.3 million.

In addition, the DPI’s proposed budget provides protection to districts’ finances during the pandemic by creating a student-enrollment hold-harmless policy and lives up the state’s promised commitment to two-thirds funding while holding statewide property taxes to zero.
Fiscal Impact Statement: This item does not authorize expenditures.
Implementation and Assessment Plan The district will continue to pursue appropriate support for students as part of the MPS Legislative Agenda.
Recommendation:
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Chris Thiel - Legislative Policy Specialist
Signed By:
Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer