2005-07 Legislative Agenda

Fiscal Issues

Maintain current percentage (approx. 64%) of state aid for schools in 2005-07 budget.
Improve Medicaid reimbursement from state to school districts (current law allows the state to "skim" 40% of the federal Medicaid reimbursement dollars for school-based services - a loss of nearly $600,000 for Madison schools in 2002-03).
Support thorough legislative review of Wisconsin's tax system; examining all taxing, spending, and tax exemption issues.
Oppose efforts to restrict state-local government spending via a Constitutional amendment
- Support mandate relief measure to ensure that the state pays for programs it requires public schools to provide.
Support state encouragement to assist school districts (and other public entities) to enter into "pooling arrangements" for long-term care, disability, worker's compensation and liability insurance.
Support state aid reimbursement for newly created 4-year old kindergarten programs, similar to the reimbursement for 4-year old kindergarten in Milwaukee choice and charter schools.
Support increasing state aid for public school transportation costs (reimbursement unchanged since 1990).
Support allowing a declining enrollment school district to use the highest enrollment in a 5-year period for purposes of calculating its revenue limit.

Educational Resources/Programs

The Madison school district supports many of the recommendation from the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence. In particular, we believe an investment in early childhood education will help deter potential future societal problems.

Support increase in SAGE aid to $2,500 per low-income student.
Support grants to local communities attempting to establish 4-year old kindergarten programs.
Support additional resources for mandated special education and English as a Second Language programs. Specifically, the district supports the recommendation to provide greater resources for low-incidence/high needs students (cognitive disability/autism).
Maintain current law for disbursement of resources from the Common School Fund for public school libraries.
Support increase in per meal reimbursement for school breakfast programs.

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