WisconsinWisconsin proposal would pay qualifying teachers recurring $7,000 bonuses
The failed proposal would pay teachers $7,000 starting in 2031–32 if they stay licensed and work for the same school board for five school years.
What it does
Starting in the 2031–32 school year, teachers who meet both five-year requirements would receive $7,000. They could qualify for more bonuses for later five-year periods that do not reuse years counted for an earlier bonus.
School boards would have to send the state education department the names of their bonus-eligible teachers each year.
The bonus would not count as earnings under the Wisconsin Retirement System.
Argument forTeachers who stay licensed and work for the same school board for five years could receive a $7,000 bonus.
Argument againstSchool boards may need to check teachers’ work and licensing histories and report eligible teachers’ names each year, adding administrative work.
More detail
The Department of Public Instruction would pay qualifying teachers a $7,000 bonus. A teacher would have to stay licensed by the state superintendent and employed by the same school board for five school years. The payment would come from the state appropriation for teacher bonuses. The first payments would begin in the 2031–32 school year. Later bonuses would cover separate, nonoverlapping five-year periods.
Each school board would report eligible teachers’ names to the Department of Public Instruction every year. The report would list teachers employed by the board who qualify for a bonus. Annual reporting would begin in the 2031–32 school year.
The bonus payment would not count as earnings under the Wisconsin Retirement System. This treatment would apply to bonuses paid by the Department of Public Instruction under the proposal.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 24Fiscal estimate receivedLatest
- Mar 23Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Major
- Mar 19Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor
- Mar 4Read first time and referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Mar 4Introduced by Senators Larson, Roys, Hesselbein, Spreitzer, Dassler-Alfheim, Keyeski, Ratcliff, Smith and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Sheehan, Brown, McCarville, Anderson, Clancy, Stroud, Udell, Andraca, Arney, Bare, DeSmidt, Hysell, Kirsch, Miresse, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri, Sinicki, Tenorio and ViningIntroduced
Education