Gov. Walker voices support for increasing aid to rural schools

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker is voicing support for increasing state aid to rural schools, reviving an idea rejected from his state budget by the Legislature.

Walker on Tuesday said he supports a bill circulated for co-sponsors in the Legislature to increase sparsity aid for low-population districts by nearly $10 million in the 2018 school year.

The proposal from Republican Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Jeff Mursau would increase sparsity aid from $300 per student to $400 for districts with fewer than 745 students. It would also create a new tier of aid totaling $100 for each student in a district with 746 to 1,000 students.

Budget committee co-chair Rep. John Nygren says he’s discussing with Walker’s administration the best way to address the sparsity aid issue.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling called Walker’s idea a gimmick.

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