MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address welcoming students, educators, and staff back to school for the 2025-26 school year. This week, Gov. Evers kicked off his annual statewide back-to-school tour, meeting with students, families, educators, and staff as they begin the school year and highlighting his administration’s work to secure increased investments for Wisconsin’s kids and K-12 schools in the final 2025-27 Biennial Budget.
Gov. Evers has spent his career fighting for Wisconsin’s kids, first beginning as a science teacher in Baraboo, and then going on to be a principal, superintendent, and state superintendent before becoming governor. This year marks his 49th back-to-school season.
As a former teacher, principal, superintendent, and state superintendent, Gov. Evers fought hard to make sure the 2025-27 Biennial Budget provided increased investments for Wisconsin’s kids and public K-12 schools. After Republican lawmakers threatened to provide no new increases for schools, through negotiations, Gov. Evers secured:
- A nearly $1.4 billion increase in spendable revenue for K-12 schools across the state in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, an over $200 million increase from the historic 2023-25 K-12 budget;
- The net categorical aid increase is roughly five times larger than the increase provided in the most recent state Biennial Budget and a nearly 100 percent increase above the amount previously approved for K-12 schools by Republican lawmakers on the state budget committee.
- The largest percent increase in the special education reimbursement rate in state history, which will increase to 42 percent in the first year of the biennium and 45 percent in the second year of the biennium;
- This is the highest reimbursement rate in 30 years and a larger increase for special education than the last three state budgets combined.
- This is a more than half-a-billion-dollar investment and more than double the increase from the previously approved motion by Republicans on the state budget committee.
- Over $54 million over the biennium for high-cost special education aid;
- This will increase the reimbursement rate of this program from its current estimated 25.9 percent to 50 percent in fiscal year 2025-26 and 90 percent in fiscal year 2026-27.
- $30 million to continue providing comprehensive school-based mental health services statewide, modeled on the governor’s successful “Get Kids Ahead” initiative; and
- In 2022, Gov. Evers created the successful “Get Kids Ahead” initiative, designed to help support kids’ mental and behavioral health in schools across Wisconsin, and directed $30 million in federal funding to support the effort to expand access to school-based mental health services.
- Gov. Evers previously fought to secure $30 million in state funding as part of a bipartisan compromise on shared revenue during the last biennium to build upon the success of his “Get Kids Ahead” initiative and ensure kids across Wisconsin would continue to have access to comprehensive mental health services in K-12 schools.
- This investment secured by Gov. Evers in bipartisan budget negotiations with Republican leaders continues building upon this important work, ensuring school-based mental health services continue to be available for kids at school through the next two years.
- $2 million in operations funding for the DPI in the state budget committee’s Supplemental Fund after Republican lawmakers previously voted to cut 10 percent of the agency’s operating costs in each year of the biennium through the state budget process.
Gov. Evers also exercised his broad, constitutional veto authority to partially veto aspects of the budget that were outside of the bipartisan budget negotiations.
RADIO ADDRESS
Hey there, Governor Tony Evers here.
I am thrilled to help kick off another great school year here in Wisconsin.
As many of you know, I started my career as a science teacher, then I became a principal, superintendent, and then state superintendent.
All told, this is my 49th back-to-school season—if you can believe it.
But whether you’ve been teaching 50 years or this is your first year, the excitement of this first day never wears off.
This is one of my favorite times of year because each new school year is filled with new opportunities for students and educators alike to grow, learn, and inspire.
I know firsthand that there is no limit to the lengths all of you will go, often serving not only as an educator, but as a mentor, counselor, advocate, and even a friend to those who need it most.
That includes the outstanding school staff who keep things running—janitors, lunch staff, administration—you name it.
Each of you plays an invaluable role in the lives of our kids, and frankly, in my book, all of you are heroes—not just to me, but to the kids and families you help support every day.
So, I’d like to start this school year off by saying something you certainly don’t hear enough—thank you.
Thank you for everything you do to support our kids’ well-being and growth.
While I’m no longer in the classroom as much as I used to be, as governor, part of my job is supporting you and your good work.
This includes making sure you have the resources, support, and respect you need to be successful.
That’s something I’ll never stop fighting for, no matter if it’s the first day of school or any other day of the year.
So, once again, thank you for your incredible partnership and hard work to ensure our kids are safe, supported, and can be their best selves both in and out of the classroom.
Take good care of yourself, know that we’re rooting for you, and let’s make it a great school year, folks.
Last Update: Sep 05, 2025 10:56 am CDT
