Sen. Chris Larson holds conference on Wisconsin's special education funding gap

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Monday morning, state Senator Chris Larson held a press conference that focused on the funding gap in Wisconsin schools when it comes to special education. 

Larson is calling for public schools to receive the same funding that voucher schools get for special education. 

He also noted that this funding disparity is what is driving a recent spike in school referenda. 

"These are not individual fights, this is part of a systemic problem from the state, underfunding our schools," Sen. Larson said. "And we can fix it, because we have a surplus."

Sen. Larson says since voucher schools are not required to take in every student, many are then absorbed by the public school system - a system that does not have the necessary resources for special education.