Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
School Financial Services Team
Supplemental Special Education Aid
Statutory Reference: s. 115.883, Wis.Stats.

This categorical aid program was enacted into law as part of the 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, the state’s 2007-09 state biennial budget. The appropriation amount for the 2008-09 school fiscal year is $1,750,000.

Beginning in the 2008-09 school year, the department shall pay supplemental special education aid to school districts that meet the following criteria:

1. In the 2008-09 school year, the school district’s revenue authority per pupil was below the state average. Calculation of the district’s revenue authority will be based upon dividing line 11 of the district’s 2008-09 revenue limit (revenue limit with all exemptions) by line 6 (current membership average). Data availability: June 2009.

In the 2008-09 school year, the school district’s expenditures for special education constituted more than 16 percent of the school district’s total expenditures. Calculation will be performed by dividing the department’s Comparative Cost – Total District Cost by the sum of Fund 27 expenditures. The department will use audited 2008-09 annual report data. Data availability: March 2010.

2. In the 2008-09 school year, the district’s membership was less than 2,000 pupils. Calculation of membership will be based upon the district’s 2008-09 audited aid membership. Data availability: June 2009.

3. A school district receiving high cost special education aid under s. 115.881, Wis. Stats., is not eligible for supplemental special education aid. The department will pay each district that is eligible for both supplemental special education aid and for high cost special education aid, the aid program amount for which their eligibility is greater unless directed to do otherwise by the school district. Data availability: June 2010.

In the 2008-09 school year the department will pay the same amount to each school district that is eligible for aid.

2008-09 District Notification

2008-09 Eligible District Listing

Beginning in 2009-10 and thereafter, the department will distribute aid to eligible school districts proportionally based upon each district’s expenditures for special education in the previous year, except that in any school year a school district may not receive less than $50,000, and not more than $150,000 or an amount equal to 50 percent of the school district’s expenditures for special education in the previous school year whichever is less.

Payment date will be the third Monday of June each year. WUFAR Source Code: 626 For questions about this information, contact dpifin@dpi.wi.gov or (608) 267-9114.

Updated September 2009

For questions about this information, contact dpifin@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9114

Last updated on 9/1/2009 1:23:50 PM