School Financial Services

Fiscal Reporting

Overview

The School Financial Services (SFS) team collects detailed Fund 27 data through WISEdata Finance (WDF) and, previously, through the Special Education (SPED) Annual Report in the 1505-SE. Previous year reports may still be accessed in the SAFR reporting portal. Special education data is used to determine the payment of SPED  categorical aid and to monitor compliance with the IDEA Maintenance of Effort requirements. 

Instructions for Completing the Special Education Reports

WISEdata Finance is Wisconsin's next-generation financial reporting system for school districts and other local education agencies (LEAs) to push financial data to DPI. The Wisconsin School Finance Portal (WiSFiP) is the current platform for all school finance reporting and is being developed and expanded in conjunction with WISEdata Finance, as reports in the existing SAFR portal are retired.

Transition from WAMS to MyWisconsin ID

After September 30, 2026, WAMS will be discontinued. The below options are available for users to sign in after September 30, 2026:

DPI highly recommends transitioning from WAMS to MyWisconsin ID or to signing in with Google at your earliest convenience.
If you already have a WAMS account with your work email address, use the same email address with your new sign-in method to retain your existing user roles for DPI applications.

If your WAMS account used a different email address than your current work email address, then follow the steps above to request access to the DPI applications you need in your current role.

The deadline for reporting FY2025-26 special education expenses in WISEdata Finance is October 16, 2026 Data must be certified and submitted on or before Friday, October 16, 2026, to be considered eligible for the FY2026 state categorical special education aid payment on November 16, 2026.

New User Training: WISEdata Portal Navigation & WISEdata Basics

Independent Charter School Training on how to enter data into the Special Education Module.

School Age Parents, School Age Parents Frequently Asked Questions

Register for the WISEdata Finance and Financial Reporting Podcast for important special education data updates.

Create your Fund 27 aid estimate/expenditure report from WISEdata reporting.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Special Education Reports

Additional information on entering special education data in the 1505-SE and WISEdata Finance. 

Each LEA, Independent Charter School (ICS), CESA and CCDEB has an obligation to employ appropriately licensed. Staff must be appropriately licensed for a special education work assignment listed in the state statute for salary and benefits, or contracted cost to be eligible for aid. The deadline for the No Valid License Audit (NVL) report is September 30, 2026. Agencies who do not complete the reporting will be excluded from the state categorical special education aid calculation. Please review the State Categorical Special Education No Valid License Audit webpage for more information.
 

ARM Guidance available soon

Independent Charter Schools (ICS)

Independent charter schools report their special education costs through WISEdata Finance (WDF).  

Resources:

Non-Instrumentality Charter Schools (NICS)

 Non-Intsrumentality Charter Schools are subject to the same manual audit program modification as districts, put into place due to ongoing challenges with ELO and staff reporting.

Non-instrumentality charter schools have special education expenses reported by their contracting districts. The sample spreadsheet claim form (below) is available for these schools to use in developing their expense submissions to districts. The NICS worksheet for prior year expenditures is due to the authorizer prior to submitting data for special education reporting  in October.

Non-Instrumentality Charter School (NICS) Special Education Licensing and Cost Workbook

Rick Cruz