The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction confirmed Tuesday it is withholding more financial aid from Milwaukee Public Schools after the district missed May 16 and May 30 deadlines to submit financial reports to the state. “Withholding funding is a last resort and comes after countless hours spent supporting MPS,” said DPI Deputy State Superintendent Tom McCarthy. “Meeting key deadlines is critical to ensure the DPI can accurately and efficiently calculate general aid estimates for school districts across Wisconsin.”DPI expects MPS to be provided with a formal notice detailing the exact amount of money being withheld, and steps to recover the money, later this week. In a statement to WISN 12, an MPS spokesperson said the district “clearly understands” the action taken by DPI.”We expect that our team will be able to submit all of the final information and data needed in the coming days and have been assured that state funds can be released quickly after it is reviewed,” said MPS Media Relations Manager Stephen Davis. “We expect any withholding of funds to be temporary and will not interrupt services to students in any way.”Late reports in 2024 led to MPS missing out on a special education aid payment from the state worth more than $16 million. That money is still being withheld. In 2024, then-Superintendent Keith Posley resigned under fire over the district’s money mess. At the time, MPS blamed inexperienced staff and out-of-date software for the late financial reports.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction confirmed Tuesday it is withholding more financial aid from Milwaukee Public Schools after the district missed May 16 and May 30 deadlines to submit financial reports to the state.
“Withholding funding is a last resort and comes after countless hours spent supporting MPS,” said DPI Deputy State Superintendent Tom McCarthy. “Meeting key deadlines is critical to ensure the DPI can accurately and efficiently calculate general aid estimates for school districts across Wisconsin.”
DPI expects MPS to be provided with a formal notice detailing the exact amount of money being withheld, and steps to recover the money, later this week.
In a statement to WISN 12, an MPS spokesperson said the district “clearly understands” the action taken by DPI.
“We expect that our team will be able to submit all of the final information and data needed in the coming days and have been assured that state funds can be released quickly after it is reviewed,” said MPS Media Relations Manager Stephen Davis. “We expect any withholding of funds to be temporary and will not interrupt services to students in any way.”
Late reports in 2024 led to MPS missing out on a special education aid payment from the state worth more than $16 million. That money is still being withheld.
In 2024, then-Superintendent Keith Posley resigned under fire over the district’s money mess. At the time, MPS blamed inexperienced staff and out-of-date software for the late financial reports.