Wisconsin’s educational landscape is set for a pivotal change as voters decide on the state’s top education official during President Donald Trump’s second term. The election is a contest between the incumbent, who is supported by the teachers union, and a Republican-endorsed challenger. Concurrently, voters will determine whether to incorporate a voter ID law into the state constitution. Despite the partisan nature of these contests, they have garnered less financial and national attention compared to the race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Voting concluded at 8 p.m. CDT.
Union-Backed Incumbent Versus GOP-Supported Critic
The position leading the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is being contested by Jill Underly, backed by Democrats and the teachers union, and Brittany Kinser, a proponent of private school vouchers with Republican endorsement. Wisconsin remains unique as the only state where the top education official is elected without the presence of a state board of education, granting the superintendent significant power over educational policy, funding allocation, and teacher licensing.
The elected official will assume office as the state grapples with the lingering impact of the pandemic on test scores, a persisting racial achievement gap, and increasing financial demands from schools requesting voter-approved property tax hikes for operations.
Jill Underly brings a wealth of experience, having initiated her educational career in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana before transitioning to Wisconsin in 2005. Her tenure includes roles within the state education department and as principal of Pecatonica Elementary School, leading to her 2021 election as state superintendent with substantial support from the Wisconsin Education Association Council and the Democratic Party.
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Brittany Kinser, aiming to become the first Republican-affiliated superintendent in over three decades, has extensive experience in education. Her background includes nearly a decade as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Chicago, followed by a leadership role in public charter schools across Chicago, California, and Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, she served as the executive director of Rocketship schools, a prominent network of public charter institutions, before transitioning to City Forward Collective, a nonprofit advocating for charter and voucher schools, and founding her consulting firm.
Kinser has criticized Underly’s management of the Department of Public Instruction, particularly her revision of state achievement standards, which faced bipartisan opposition. Underly defends the changes as reflective of current student learning trends. The candidates are divided on private school voucher programs, with Kinser in favor and Underly opposing due to concerns about diverting funds from public schools.
Potential Constitutional Amendment for Voter ID Law
Wisconsin’s electorate is also considering a proposal to elevate the state’s photo ID requirement for voting from statute to constitutional amendment, a move initiated by the Republican-majority Legislature. The current law, in effect since 2016, will remain irrespective of the vote outcome. However, a constitutional amendment would provide additional protection against judicial reversal.
Supporters, primarily Republicans, advocate the amendment as a measure to enhance election security. Opponents, largely Democrats, argue it could disproportionately affect marginalized groups, including people of color, those with disabilities, and low-income voters. A constitutional amendment would complicate future attempts by a Democrat-controlled Legislature to amend the law, requiring approval in two consecutive sessions and a statewide vote.
Wisconsin maintains the nation’s strictest photo ID voting requirement, one of only nine states with such mandates, amidst a broader landscape where 36 states require or request some form of voter identification.
The Bottom Line
- The election will significantly influence Wisconsin’s educational policies, impacting funding distribution and educational standards.
- A shift in superintendent leadership could alter the landscape of public and private schooling, affecting school funding and educational opportunities.
- Incorporating the voter ID law into the state constitution could solidify election policies, potentially affecting voter turnout and accessibility for minority groups.
- The outcome of these elections may set precedents for future educational and electoral policy decisions in Wisconsin.
- Wisconsinites face critical decisions that will shape the state’s educational framework and electoral procedures for years to come.