Public schools in Wisconsin will receive hundreds of millions of dollars under the American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress in March, and more than $2 billion in total from three federal COVID-relief enactments. The money is intended to assist students in rebounding from the pandemic and to help schools cover costs related to the pandemic and take steps to reduce health concerns in the future. Under the program, high-poverty school districts will get large sums, and low-poverty districts will receive modest amounts. What are schools deciding to do with the money, and how does it fit into their overall financial picture?
In the first half hour, Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, will describe what she is seeing as she observes the national picture of what schools are doing with the money. The Edunomics Lab focuses on school finance policy and practice.
That will be followed by a discussion with several school leaders in this region on how the Rescue Plan aid will be used. Included will be Superintendent Keith Posley of the Milwaukee Public Schools; Superintendent Marty Lexmond of the West Allis–West Milwaukee School District; John Stellmacher, business manager of the Kettle Moraine School District and past president of the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials; and Brittany Kinser, executive director of Rocketship Schools in Wisconsin and chair of the MKE Charter School Advocates organization.
This program is presented by Marquette Law School’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education and the Marquette University College of Education. Alan J. Borsuk, senior fellow in law and public policy, will moderate the discussions.
The discussion will be available via the “Watch Now” button above on July 21, starting at 12:15 p.m.
