Wisc. State Superintendent Proposes Additional $60M for CTE

(TNS) — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly on Friday proposed an additional $60 million to expand career and technical education programs throughout the state, helping prepare students for success in work, community and life.

She made the announcement during a visit to Chippewa Falls Senior High School, where she toured the school's CTE program.

"Wisconsin students need more meaningful opportunities to explore possible career aspirations — my budget proposal makes a strategic investment in both our students and our communities," Underly said. "Innovative programs like the ones at Chippewa Falls Senior High School exist at schools around the state, but not all students have access to those opportunities."

Wisconsin is one of six states that do not have ongoing funding dedicated to CTE programs in public schools, according to a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction release.

The proposal is part of Dr. Underly's 2025-27 biennial budget request.

"My budget supports schools in creating, implementing and growing CTE and career pathways available to students," Underly said. "These offerings help prepare students for the workforce and a future career. An educated, prepared workforce will help our state in continuing to build our economy."

The budget request would:

• Create a categorical aid program expanding CTE and career pathway offerings to students across the state. Grant funding would be allocated to districts based on the number of high school students ($45 million over the biennium).
  
• Provide funding to each of the state's six career and technical student organizations (DECA, FCCLA, HOSA, FBLA, FFA and SkillsUSA), which help students in developing citizenship, technical, leadership and teamwork skills in preparing for careers and further education ($9 million over the biennium).
  
• Increase high quality, robust academic and career planning by providing crucial software and technical support to educators so they can implement one-on-one student centered advising ($400,000 over the biennium).

Underly proposed significant new investments to hold down property tax increases and help meet the needs of local schools, students and educators, DPI said.

Her proposal includes increasing the state reimbursement rate for special education services to 90 percent by fiscal year 2027, making per-pupil adjustments to revenue limits and indexing those revenue limits to inflation for the first time in 15 years, and expanding the per-pupil categorical aid program, the release says.

"The way that we, as a state, fund public education has left schools and districts in perilous financial positions for years," Underly said. "The time is past due to invest in our schools, especially in this moment. The need is there, and we can hold down property taxes, support our kids, and provide sustainable funding to Wisconsin public schools."

Underly held a youth mental health roundtable Nov. 12 at Wausau East High School where she listened to students on their current mental health needs and explained how her $304 million budget proposal invests in additional resources and services.

She also proposed funding supporting schools in modernizing water fountains, ensuring students have access to clean drinking water.

In October, Underly announced a budget proposal investing nearly $60 million to help school districts resolve staffing challenges and retain teachers and another $42 million proposal that supports the development of readers and schools in implementing mandated early literacy initiatives.

Underly also recently announced a $311 million proposal for school nutrition that provides universal meals to Wisconsin students at no cost to families, the release says.

©2024 The Chippewa Herald, Chippewa Falls, Wisc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.