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Does the Wisconsin GOP oppose all public school funding?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
NO

Republicans who control Wisconsin's Legislature have routinely passed funding for the state's public schools, most recently in the 2021–23 biennial budget.

However, many Republican plans for education funding have been in conflict with Democrats' goals. For example, in the last budget, Republicans added state aid to fund schools while rejecting Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' proposal to increase revenue caps, which would have allowed school districts to raise and spend more money. The final budget passed by GOP lawmakers contained approximately $1 billion less in K–12 education funding than what Evers requested. 

Republicans also passed a "universal school choice" bill that would have allowed any family, regardless of income or address, to receive a voucher to attend private school. Evers vetoed it, saying implementing such a policy would cost taxpayers more than $500 million.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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