Your MKE Edu News Brief: 6/27/2025
MPS Passes Budget • Supreme Court Blocks Evers on Literacy Funding • State Budget Nearing 6/30 Deadline • Lead Poisoning Update
1
MPS Passes Budget Amid Praise, Pushback, and New Fiscal Warnings
Context: Superintendent Cassellius took over after years of unsustainable MPS budgets. Her first budget proposal earned praise from CFC as “bold, honest leadership.”
Why this matters: This week, the MPS Board approved the $1.5 billion budget without changes. The plan moves 43 central office jobs into classrooms, boosts facilities spending for lead cleanup, and restructures top leadership.
A new Wisconsin Policy Forum report warns of long-term risks, including staff vacancies, reliance on referendum funding, and uncertainty in the state budget.
The MPS Board at their June budget hearing
What’s next: Cassellius promised to gather more feedback for next year’s budget, which she will have an entire year to shape, starting with a listening tour this summer.
Related:
Milwaukee School Board approves $1.5 billion budget plan. Here are the highlights.
Report: Milwaukee schools' 2026 budget is stable, but strain looms
MPS Superintendent Cassellius launches a listening tour. Here's how to attend.
2
State Supreme Court strikes down Gov. Evers’ partial veto of literacy law, with $50m at stake
Context: Wisconsin has one of the largest Black–White achievement gaps in reading, according to the Nation’s Report Card. In 2023, lawmakers passed Act 20, a literacy overhaul aligned with the science of reading, along with $50 million to support implementation. Gov. Evers issued a partial veto to give DPI more control over the funds.
Why this matters: The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously struck down Evers’ veto this week, ruling that DPI will not control the $50 million. Most of that funding has sat unused for over a year. State Superintendent Underly said many districts have already begun implementing Act 20’s reforms without the funds, but schools were counting on that money to train teachers and buy curriculum.
What’s next: The Legislative Joint Finance Committee has placed this item on its agenda for today (Friday).
Meanwhile, a new coalition in Milwaukee is mobilizing to advance science-of-reading reforms locally.
Related:
Supreme Court rules Evers improperly used veto in $50 million reading bill issue
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto of literacy law
Wisconsin Supreme Court rules against Gov. Tony Evers in dispute over $50M for DPI reading bill
Milwaukee Reading Coalition would use state funds to train teachers in early literacy
3
Legislature, Governor Clash Over Child Care Funding as Deadline Nears
Context: Wisconsin’s budget process is nearing its final days. Earlier this month, lawmakers approved $336 million in new K-12 spending, including major increases in special education aid—an investment backed by over 70% of voters, according to the latest Marquette poll.
Why this matters: Budget talks between Gov. Evers and legislative Republicans have stalled. The sticking point: Evers insists on funding to continue the Child Care Counts program, $442 million of which lawmakers removed from the budget. Without a deal, child care providers across the state may lose critical funding that supported families and staff during the pandemic.
Related:
Wisconsin GOP leadership still split on when budget talks could resume
Tony Evers says he won't sign a budget that doesn't extend Child Care Counts
Poll: Wisconsinites want special ed funding, tax cuts in budget
4
Lead Poisoning Update: CDC Returns as Local and National Scrutiny Intensifies
Context: After MPS shut down nine schools this year due to lead hazards, Milwaukee’s lead poisoning crisis drew national attention. The crisis stemmed from years of inspection failures and was compounded when the CDC pulled federal support due to layoffs.
Why this matters: This week featured several key updates:
CDC re-engaged: Milwaukee Health Commissioner Totoraitis confirmed that the CDC’s lead team is back on the ground supporting local efforts.
Federal pressure: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin pressed CDC Director nominee Susan Monarez on her commitment to restoring the federal Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program.
Public education: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an FAQ addressing common questions from families, including how children are exposed and what other buildings may be at risk.
What’s next: MPS and the Milwaukee Health Department are advancing their Lead Action Plan, backed by the newly passed MPS budget. The work will intensify over the summer.
Related:
Milwaukee Health Commissioner confirms the return of the CDC lead team
You asked about lead in Milwaukee Public Schools. Here's what we found.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin grills CDC Director Nominee about Milwaukee lead crisis
MORE
LOCAL
STATE
What to know about a bill to limit how often school districts can go to referendum
Trump budget would eliminate funding for Wisconsin after-school learning centers
School Choice Wisconsin: Kelly to depart School Choice Wisconsin for new opportunity
NATIONAL
The U.S. Department of Education is far behind on producing key statistics (Read at Brookings)
More Than a Third of Homeschool Families Also Use Public Schools, New Data Shows (Read at The 74)
Education Department Ordered to Undo Civil Rights Office Cuts (Read at Bloomberg Law News)
What children in poverty could lose from the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ : NPR
US moves closer to offering national private school choice | K-12 Dive