Wisconsin: School enrollment declining for 11 straight yrs; "insufficient funds for special education"

Feb 19, 2026, JS Online:  69 Wisconsin schools have closed in the past two years. More could follow 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2026/02/19/challenges-for-wisconsin-school-districts-trying-to-keep-schools-open/88202392007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=undefined&gca-ft=0&gca-ds=sophi 

Within the past two years, 69 public schools in Wisconsin shut down. More will close in coming years.

The closures come as school districts grapple with high costs, state-imposed revenue limits, limited state funding, insufficient funds for special education and declining enrollment – which has dropped for 11 straight years statewide.

Limited state funding makes finances difficult for public schools

The state's 2009-11 budget act eliminated the inflationary increase to the per pupil adjustment allowed under revenue limits, according to the state's Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

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