An Act to amend 20.255 (2) (dt) (title); to repeal and recreate 115.367 of the statutes; Relating to: aid for comprehensive school mental health services and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB347 would replace Wisconsin’s existing Department of Public Instruction grant program for school mental health with a new categorical aid program for comprehensive school mental health services. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, DPI would reimburse school districts and independent charter schools for eligible mental health-related expenditures made during in-school or out-of-school time. Eligible costs include evidence-based mental health strategies, mental health literacy and stigma-reduction efforts, collaboration with community providers, parent training, pupil and family assistance programs, mental health navigators, planning, interpreter services, school-employed mental health professionals, telehealth setup and services, and certain youth substance-use prevention or intervention projects.
The bill sets a reimbursement cap for each school district or charter school at the greater of $100,000 or $100 per pupil enrolled in the prior school year. If the appropriation is not sufficient to fully fund all claims, DPI must prorate payments among eligible recipients. The bill also increases the appropriation to DPI under the relevant budget line by $83,888,000 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, and it takes effect after publication or after the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
SB347 would amend the state’s school aid statutes by repealing and recreating s. 115.367 and renaming the related appropriation line in s. 20.255 (2) (dt) to reflect aid for comprehensive school mental health services. It shifts state support from a grant-based model to an annual reimbursement/categorical aid structure, expanding the range of reimbursable mental health services and establishing a statewide funding formula and cap for school districts and independent charter schools. The bill directly affects DPI, school boards, charter school operators, and providers or contractors involved in school mental health services.
The bill appears to have been introduced with strong support from a broad coalition of Democratic senators and representatives, suggesting favorable sentiment toward expanding school mental health funding. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, and the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, so there is no evidence in the supplied record of formal committee debate or bipartisan agreement. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and subject matter, the overall tone is supportive of increasing school-based mental health resources.
The main policy issue is funding and scope: supporters would likely favor making school mental health services a more stable, statewide reimbursement program, while critics could question the size of the appropriation, the new ongoing fiscal commitment, and whether the state should reimburse a broad set of services rather than direct treatment. Another possible point of contention is the reimbursement formula and cap, including whether the $100-per-pupil or $100,000 minimum is equitable for districts of different sizes and whether prorating would leave some schools underfunded if appropriations fall short. The bill also excludes direct treatment services, insurance deductibles, and non-mental-health overhead, which may limit what some schools can claim.