Have 8 consecutive Wisconsin budgets given less money to public schools?

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No.

When adjusting for inflation and total student population, state K-12 funding has fluctuated over the past eight budgets and is about where it was before major cuts in 2011.

Funding dropped after Republicans required public school employees to pay more toward pension and health insurance costs in 2011 under the law known as Act 10. Then from 2013 to 2020 inflation-adjusted, per-pupil spending on K-12 education increased each year. In the two years after the COVID-19 pandemic, funding decreased but then increased over the next two years.

Inflation-adjusted, per-pupil state spending is now slightly above what it was before the 2011 cuts.

Here are the figures:

2010-2011: $9,469.08

2024-2025: $9,527.65

2023-2024: $9,386.15

2022-2023: $9,299.59

2021-2022: $9,700.89

2020-2021: $9,960.87

2019-2020: $9,380.61

2018-2019: $9,219.23

2017-2018: $9,167.82

2016-2017: $8,825.57

2015-2016: $8,576.74

2014-2015: $8,549.45

2013-2014: $8,426.60

2012-2013: $8,388.53

2011-2012: $8,408.17

2010-2011: $9,469.08

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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