• Cuts aid to schools by about $900 million, or 9%, and reduces how much schools can collect from property taxes per student. CITE BB

• Eliminates the requirement that schools be open 180 days a year. Schools could meet for fewer, but longer, days as long as the same minimum number of classroom hours were retained. CITE BB

• Eliminates or cuts programs to students with particular service needs. Cuts to public education include state grants that would provide alternative education for struggling students ($4.5 million), alcohol and drug treatment programs ($8.7 million), bilingual-bicultural education (10% cut) and 4-year-old kindergarten (10% cut).

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• Spends $1.2 million for an initiative to develop a third-grade reading test. The funds would be designated for the Department of Administration instead of the ***

• Creates an uncertain impact on interscholastic athletics in the state.

As districts brace for deep cuts to academic programs, extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics, will be placed at risk of severe cuts. According to Michael Thompson, the assistant superintendent for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and its liaison to the WIAA Board of Control, “Some of these issues about ... whether you keep athletics or not, some (districts) don't even know if they will have a choice." WIAA executive director Dave Anderson has suggested the possibility of a reduction in games and travel restrictions to assist districts in cutting their sports budgets, but has also acknowledged that the budget could force the WIAA to review its transfer rules if some districts cut sports while others do not.

http://host.madison.com/sports/high-school/article_4cbb6ffc-46a4-11e0-8839-001cc4c002e0.html BB