MADISON, Wis. — Students, teachers and community partners gathered at the Wisconsin Capitol on Thursday for the yearly State of Education Address.
From the Capitol rotunda, State Superintendent Jill Underly put forth what she called a “bold, forward-looking vision” for public education across Wisconsin.
“We will not allow politics or outside forces to rewrite the story of Wisconsin’s public schools,” Underly told the audience. “We will not stand by while the future of our children is at stake.”
In her first annual address since being re-elected in April to Wisconsin’s top education post, Underly, who was backed by the Democratic Party in the technically nonpartisan race, called on state and national leaders to move past partisanship.
“Our federal government, rather than being a partner in education, is threatening the very resources our schools depend on to serve their most vulnerable students,” Underly added. “At a time when we should be uniting to support our kids, our educators and our schools, we’re instead seeing attacks driven by nothing more than political agendas and hatred.”
Underly also used her fifth State of Education speech to reflect on where Wisconsin is coming up short.
“For far too long, Wisconsin has carried a painful and unacceptable label,” Underly remarked. “The largest Black-to-white achievement gap in the nation.”
After Thursday’s address, reporters asked Underly about what she plans to specifically do to address the issue.
“We have to invest in the things that we know work,” Underly answered. “We need to invest in teachers. We need to make sure that programs are robust in our schools. But really, it’s a complicated answer.”
Meanwhile, Assembly Republicans put forth a plan last week to help schools consider consolidation and share services.
As birth rates drop, Wisconsin’s public school enrollment has fallen by nearly 53,000 over the span of a decade. Underly told Spectrum News 1 that she wants to be a partner in solving the problem.
“It’s a problem that we can’t solve on our own, and they can’t solve on their own either. And so, as many voices as we can get in there, but I don’t disagree with them. I do feel that it’s an issue that we need to address sooner than later,” Underly said.
Republican leaders, who control the Legislature, not only criticized Underly’s remarks but also called out Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who vetoed Assembly Bill 1 earlier this year, which they said would have restored high and consistent standards in Wisconsin schools.
“The state of education in Wisconsin can be summed up in one word: unaccountable,” Majority Leader Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said in a statement. “DPI Superintendent Underly’s changing standards make it impossible for parents to track their student’s and school’s performance year-over-year. Parents, students, and taxpayers deserve better.”
Democrats, who also introduced education-related bills last week, said the state budget passed in July “missed the mark” and should have “better valued public education” in response to Underly’s remarks.
“I want to highlight the words that Dr. Underly said during her speech today, ‘schools should not have to beg and plead for basic resources. … We are failing our schools, and it’s time we write a better story… schools are being asked to do more with less. Still, educators are stepping up—innovating out of necessity. Embracing new teaching methods. Reimagining how to support students despite limited resources,’” State Rep. Robin Vining, D-Wauwatosa, said in a statement after the address.