Public education was extremely important to the founders of this State and remains a core tenet in the Wisconsin Constitution. Today, earnings from BCPL investment of the Common School Fund are directed to provide the sole state aid for the purchase of public school library media and resources.

In 2026, $73.5 million was distributed among the 421 Wisconsin school districts. In accordance with the State Constitution, the distribution to each District is based on the proportion of residents therein between the ages of 4 and 20.

Public education is a core tenet in the state's Constitution. Today, the sole source of state funding for public school libraries in Wisconsin is derived from School Trust Funds established by the state's founders. BCPL manages these trust funds whose annual earnings enable public school libraries to purchase books, newspapers, periodicals, web-based resources, and computer hardware and software. In 2026, $73.5 million was distributed among more than 400 school districts for library aid.