Wisconsin Senate Bill SB834

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/26
• Refer: 1/15/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p. a.; to create 20.255 (2) (dq) and 115.449 of the statutes; Relating to: a grant program to support parent and guardian volunteer programs in schools, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

Impact

The implementation of SB834 is expected to have a positive impact on education by incentivizing greater parental participation in schools. This could potentially lead to improved student outcomes as active parental engagement is often linked to enhanced student performance and well-being. Additionally, financial support for schools to create such programs may help to alleviate the funding barriers that can limit schools' abilities to facilitate volunteer opportunities.

Summary

Senate Bill 834 aims to establish a grant program to support parent and guardian volunteer initiatives within educational settings. Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is tasked with developing and implementing a grant program to award financial assistance to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in parental choice programs starting in the 2026-27 school year. The bill emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in education and encourages schools to construct programs that foster volunteer opportunities for parents and guardians.

Contention

Despite the positive aspects of increased parental engagement, there may be concerns regarding the allocation of funds and the effectiveness of the proposed grant program. Critics could argue about the distribution process of these grants and whether the implementation will address the needs of all educational institutions fairly. Furthermore, there may be discussions around the necessity of state funding for volunteer programs when many schools might already have established parent engagement initiatives without such financial support.