Wisconsin State Superintendent Asks for More Money, Ignores Poor Performance in State of Education

Wisconsin’s state superintendent of schools mentioned reading only once during her latest address at the State Capitol, and never once mentioned Wisconsin’s test scores, struggling public schools, or continued racial-learning-gap.

Superintendent Jill Underly delivered her State of Education Thursday. She once again asked for more money, and once again talked about inclusion, LGBTQ students, and the needs to make public schools for everyone.

“Public education belongs to every Wisconsin child., “Underly said. “No matter a child’s zip code, their family origin, whether they’re Black or white or a member of one of our tribal nations.”

Underly didn’t offer a price tag for just how much more money she wants. Her only specific request was to increase state special education funding to at least 60% of the cost to local districts.

Underly also made the pitch to spend more on mental health supports for Wisconsin school kids. She pointed to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey that shows more than half of Wisconsin students report being anxious or depressed.

“Fifty nine percent of Wisconsin high school students – almost six out of every 10 Wisconsin high schoolers – are telling us they feel anxious, depressed, or suicidal,” Underly explained. “Our kids are in immediate need of our collective help. And the rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts are off the charts for our LGBTQ youth.”

But those numbers, however, are based on the responses from just 1,882 Wisconsin students in 42 schools in the state. There are just under 800,000 kids in Wisconsin’s public schools. (DPI does not have an overall high school-only enrollment figure).

Underly took her inclusivity message a step further, and essentially accused Wisconsin’s Republican legislature of bullying LGBTQ+ students.

“I’d like to say unequivocally, if someone isn’t helping to create a welcoming environment for all kids, if they’re targeting public schools, teachers, librarians, and administrators, they’re not trying to be a part of what we co-create. They want control. That’s not what I am here for,” Underly added.

Missing from Underly’s State of Education speech was any mention of Wisconsin’s test scores. Those show, roughly, that two-thirds of kids in Wisconsin cannot read or do math at grade level.

She also failed to mention Milwaukee Public Schools’ racial-learning-gap. The difference in test scores between white kids and black kids in Milwaukee is the largest in the nation. It has been for years.

Underly also didn’t mention falling enrollment, the learning loss from the coronavirus school shutdowns, or MPS’ on-going financial scandal that DPI was silent about for months.

Underly announced earlier this month that she is running for re-election as State Superintendent. She will be on the spring 2025 ballot. It remains to be seen if she gets either a Democratic or Republican opponent.