The 2025 City of Madison property tax bills show “Madison Schools” as the recipient of 51% of those taxes. Madison Metropolitan School District is the largest recipient, but a rapidly growing portion is diverted to voucher schools and independent charter schools(ICS). State law requires the Department of Public Instruction to deduct funding directly from school districts where students attending these schools live.
Statewide, vouchers and independent charter schools are expected to cost more than $1.8 billion in the 2025-2027 biennial budget. These schools are also guaranteed specific dollar amounts of state funding in ways that public schools are not.
All of Madison’s students deserve well-funded schools, but decisions made at the state level have burdened our schools and made it difficult to respond to rising costs and urgent needs. The Madison Public Schools Foundation is committed to providing data and resources to promote transparency and meaningful discussion on the conditions facing our schools, students, and families.
To learn more, please email the Foundation’s Advocacy Director, Caleb Kulinski.
