Latest news with #Kinser
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DPI chief Jill Underly won a second term. What does state superintendent do?
Wisconsin voters elected State Superintendent Jill Underly to a second term in the spring 2025 election. Underly, a Democrat, defeated her Republican-backed opponent, education consultant Brittany Kinser. She drew 53% of the votes to Kinser's 47%, according to unofficial results. Here's what to know about Underly and the state superintendent job: The state superintendent leads the Department of Public Instruction, the statewide agency that disburses school funding, oversees teacher licensing, guides policies for Wisconsin's 400-plus school districts and more. The DPI chief plays a critical role in advocating for K-12 education statewide. The agency requests money from the state Legislature for schools every two years. Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. More: Everything you need to know about the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction superintendent race Underly was first elected in 2021. She secured a second term on Tuesday. Underly's education career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana. She moved to Wisconsin in 2005, working as an adviser at the University of Wisconsin-Madison while she earned her doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy analysis. She then spent five years at the DPI, specializing in federal grants. From 2015 to 2021, she served as superintendnet of Pecatonica Area School District, leading about 400 students in rural southwestern Wisconsin. As Pecatonica superintendent, Underly saw the disparities between districts when students and teachers left for wealthier suburban Madison districts. She saw the state's funding formula as broken and wanted to fix it. "We have to take a look at what the message is we're sending to kids who live in rural Wisconsin and in urban school districts, too, (about) the value of their education," she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an interview last month. "Because right now, I think the message is they're not valued." Underly is likely most known for her controverisal overhaul of the state's proficiency benchmarks for standardized tests last year. Kinser, her opponent, and Republicans have said the changes "lowered standards" because the new cut scores students need to be considered proficient are lower than under the previous system. Underly said the changes came at the request of Wisconsin teachers and more accurately reflect student achievement. On the campaign trail, Underly toued a reading literacy law passed in 2023. It set aside $50 million for reading instruction. But only $1 million has been released, with the rest tied up in a lawsuit between Evers and the Legislature. If unresolved by June 30, the money will end up in the state's general fund. Among Underly's lesser-known initiatives is an online network for special education teachers to receive mentorship and support. She said she would like to expand the program to connect teachers of other subject areas who work in rural communities. Even though they may be the only Spanish teacher or librarian or band teacher in their district, they shouldn't feel that way, she said. "The progress we've made is real," Underly said at a candidate forum last month. "But the work isn't done." The term lasts four years. Underly's second term goes through June 2029. For the budget covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, Underly proposed just over $4 billion in new spending. Her request reimburses schools at 90% for special education, up from the 33% the state currently reimburses. It would also tie revenue limits to inflation. The proposal needs approval from the GOP-controlled Legislature, which is unlikely to support the level of spending Underly proposed. The superintendent earns a $146,183 salary this year. Kelly Meyerhofer covers higher education in Wisconsin. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@ or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Wisconsin state superintendent job
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Democratic-backed Wisconsin state schools chief Jill Underly wins reelection over GOP-backed rival
Here's a look at the two races: Union-backed incumbent defeats GOP-backed voucher advocate Underly, the Democratic-backed state education chief, defeated her Republican-aligned opponent, Brittany Kinser. Unofficial results showed Underly with almost 53% of the vote with 85% of votes counted statewide. 'Tonight, we celebrate a victory not just for our campaign, but for every educator, family and most importantly - kids - across our great state,' Underly said in a statement. Advertisement Kinser's campaign did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Underly will guide policies affecting K-12 schools as Trump moves to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Her second term comes at a time when test scores are still recovering from the pandemic, Wisconsin's achievement gap between white and Black students remains the worst in the country and more schools are asking voters to raise property taxes to pay for operations. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the superintendent broad authority to oversee education policy, from dispersing school funding to managing teacher licensing. Underly, 47, had the support of the teachers union in the general election after failing to secure it in the three-person primary. She also was backed financially by the state Democratic Party. Advertisement Underly, who was first elected as state superintendent in 2021, ran as a champion of public schools. Kinser supports the private school voucher program. Underly's education career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana. She moved to Wisconsin in 2005 and worked for five years at the state education department. She also was principal of Pecatonica Elementary School for a year before becoming district administrator. Kinser, whose backers included the Wisconsin Republican Party and former Republican Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, previously worked for Rocketship schools, part of a national network of public charter institutions. She rose to become its executive director in the Milwaukee region. In 2022 she left Rocketship for City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for charter and voucher schools. She also founded a consulting firm where she currently works. Kinser tried to brand Underly as being a poor manager of the Department of Public Instruction and keyed in on her overhaul of state achievement standards last year. Underly said that was done to better reflect what students are learning now, but the change was met with bipartisan opposition including from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who was previously state superintendent himself. Evers did not make an endorsement in the race. Longtime voter ID law enshrined in the state constitution Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly elevated the state's photo ID requirement from state law to constitutional amendment under a proposal approved by voters. Unofficial results showed the amendment passing with almost 63% of the vote with almost 90% of ballots counted. The Republican-controlled Legislature placed the measure on the ballot and pitched it as a way to bolster election security and protect the law from being overturned in court. Advertisement President Donald Trump trumpeted the measure's approval on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling it 'maybe the biggest win of the night.' 'It should allow us to win Wisconsin, like I just did in the presidential election, for many years to come!' he said. Trump narrowly lost Wisconsin to Joe Biden in 2020 but defeated Kamala Harris last November election to claim its 10 electoral votes. Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who is leading Trump's efforts to shrink the federal government, also noted the outcome on his social media platform, X, saying: 'Yeah!' Democratic opponents argued that photo ID requirements are often enforced unfairly, making voting more difficult for people of color, disabled people and poor people. All Voting is Local, a nonpartisan voting rights organization, warned that placing the photo ID mandate in the constitution will make it harder to vote. 'We should not be purposefully leaving eligible voters behind by setting up additional barriers to the ballot, but unfortunately, those in the Badger State have one more step to take before voting,' Sam Liebert, the organization's state director, said in a statement. Wisconsin voters won't notice any changes when they go to the polls. They will still have to present a valid photo ID just as they have under the state law, which was passed in 2011 and went into effect permanently in 2016 after a series of unsuccessful lawsuits. Placing the photo ID requirement in the constitution makes it more difficult for a future Legislature controlled by Democrats to change the law. Any constitutional amendment must be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and by a statewide popular vote. Advertisement Wisconsin is one of nine states where people must present photo ID to vote, and its requirement is the nation's strictest, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-six states have laws requiring or requesting that voters show some sort of identification, according to the NCSL.
Chicago Tribune
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Wisconsin voters to choose top education official and consider voter ID amendment
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's top education official, who will guide policies affecting K-12 schools during President Donald Trump's second term, will be elected Tuesday in a race between the teachers union-backed incumbent and a Republican-supported critic. The electorate will also decide whether to enshrine a voter ID law in the state constitution. Both contests have sharp partisan divisions, though they have drawn far less spending and national attention than the race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Here's a look at the two contests: Incumbent education leader backed by unions, Democrats faces GOP choice The race to lead the state Department of Public Instruction pits incumbent Jill Underly, who is backed by Democrats and the teachers union, against consultant Brittany Kinser, a supporter of the private school voucher program who is endorsed by Republicans but calls herself a moderate. Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the superintendent broad authority to oversee education policy, from dispersing school funding to managing teacher licensing. The winner will take office at a time when test scores are still recovering from the pandemic, the achievement gap between white and Black students remains the worst in the country and more schools are asking voters to raise property taxes to pay for operations. Underly's education career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana. She moved to Wisconsin in 2005 and worked for five years at the state education department. She also was principal of Pecatonica Elementary School for a year before becoming district administrator. Underly, 47, was elected state superintendent in 2021 and was endorsed by the union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, as well as the Wisconsin Democratic Party and numerous Democratic officeholders. Kinser, whose backers include the Wisconsin Republican Party and former Republican Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, is vying to become the first GOP-affiliated person to hold the superintendent position in more than 30 years. She worked for almost 10 years as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Chicago Public Schools. After that she spent 15 years at public charter schools in Chicago, California and Milwaukee. In the Milwaukee area, Kinser worked for Rocketship schools, part of a national network of public charter institutions, and became its executive director for the region. In 2022 she left Rocketship for City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for charter and voucher schools. She also founded a consulting firm where she currently works. Kinser, 47, tried to brand Underly as being a poor manager of the Department of Public Instruction and keyed in on her overhaul of state achievement standards last year. Underly said that was done to better reflect what students are learning now, but the change was met with bipartisan opposition including from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who was previously state superintendent himself. Evers has not made an endorsement in the race. Kinser said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to evaluate how schools and districts are performing over time. Underly portrayed Kinser as nothing more than a lobbyist who doesn't care about public education. Kinser supports the state's private school voucher and charter school program, which Democrats and Underly oppose on the grounds that such programs siphon needed money away from public schools. Longtime voter ID law could be enshrined in state constitution Wisconsin's photo ID requirement for voting would be elevated from state law to constitutional amendment under a proposal placed on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Even if voters say no to that, the requirement, which has been on the books since 2011, will remain in place as law. It went into effect permanently in 2016 after a series of unsuccessful lawsuits. Republicans pitched the amendment it as a way to bolster election security and protect the law from being overturned in court. Democratic opponents argued that photo ID requirements are often enforced unfairly, making voting more difficult for people of color, disabled people and poor people. If voters pass the measure, it would make it more difficult for a future Legislature controlled by Democrats to change the law. Any constitutional amendment must be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and by a statewide popular vote. Wisconsin is one of nine states where people must present photo ID to vote, and its requirement is the nation's strictest, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-six states have laws requiring or requesting that voters show some sort of identification, according to the NCSL. Originally Published: April 1, 2025 at 6:13 AM CDT
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin voters to choose top education official and consider voter ID amendment
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's top education official, who will guide policies affecting K-12 schools during President Donald Trump's second term, will be elected Tuesday in a race between the teachers union-backed incumbent and a Republican-supported critic. The electorate will also decide whether to enshrine a voter ID law in the state constitution. Both contests have sharp partisan divisions, though they have drawn far less spending and national attention than the race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Here's a look at the two contests: Incumbent education leader backed by unions, Democrats faces GOP choice The race to lead the state Department of Public Instruction pits incumbent Jill Underly, who is backed by Democrats and the teachers union, against consultant Brittany Kinser, a supporter of the private school voucher program who is endorsed by Republicans but calls herself a moderate. Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the superintendent broad authority to oversee education policy, from dispersing school funding to managing teacher licensing. The winner will take office at a time when test scores are still recovering from the pandemic, the achievement gap between white and Black students remains the worst in the country and more schools are asking voters to raise property taxes to pay for operations. Underly's education career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana. She moved to Wisconsin in 2005 and worked for five years at the state education department. She also was principal of Pecatonica Elementary School for a year before becoming district administrator. Underly, 47, was elected state superintendent in 2021 and was endorsed by the union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, as well as the Wisconsin Democratic Party and numerous Democratic officeholders. Kinser, whose backers include the Wisconsin Republican Party and former Republican Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, is vying to become the first GOP-affiliated person to hold the superintendent position in more than 30 years. She worked for almost 10 years as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Chicago Public Schools. After that she spent 15 years at public charter schools in Chicago, California and Milwaukee. In the Milwaukee area, Kinser worked for Rocketship schools, part of a national network of public charter institutions, and became its executive director for the region. In 2022 she left Rocketship for City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for charter and voucher schools. She also founded a consulting firm where she currently works. Kinser, 47, tried to brand Underly as being a poor manager of the Department of Public Instruction and keyed in on her overhaul of state achievement standards last year. Underly said that was done to better reflect what students are learning now, but the change was met with bipartisan opposition including from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who was previously state superintendent himself. Evers has not made an endorsement in the race. Kinser said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to evaluate how schools and districts are performing over time. Underly portrayed Kinser as nothing more than a lobbyist who doesn't care about public education. Kinser supports the state's private school voucher and charter school program, which Democrats and Underly oppose on the grounds that such programs siphon needed money away from public schools. Longtime voter ID law could be enshrined in state constitution Wisconsin's photo ID requirement for voting would be elevated from state law to constitutional amendment under a proposal placed on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Even if voters say no to that, the requirement, which has been on the books since 2011, will remain in place as law. It went into effect permanently in 2016 after a series of unsuccessful lawsuits. Republicans pitched the amendment it as a way to bolster election security and protect the law from being overturned in court. Democratic opponents argued that photo ID requirements are often enforced unfairly, making voting more difficult for people of color, disabled people and poor people. If voters pass the measure, it would make it more difficult for a future Legislature controlled by Democrats to change the law. Any constitutional amendment must be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and by a statewide popular vote. Wisconsin is one of nine states where people must present photo ID to vote, and its requirement is the nation's strictest, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-six states have laws requiring or requesting that voters show some sort of identification, according to the NCSL.
Associated Press
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Wisconsin voters to choose top education official and consider voter ID amendment
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's top education official, who will guide policies affecting K-12 schools during President Donald Trump's second term, will be elected Tuesday in a race between the teachers union-backed incumbent and a Republican-supported critic. The electorate will also decide whether to enshrine a voter ID law in the state constitution. Both contests have sharp partisan divisions, though they have drawn far less spending and national attention than the race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Here's a look at the two contests: Incumbent education leader backed by unions, Democrats faces GOP choice The race to lead the state Department of Public Instruction pits incumbent Jill Underly, who is backed by Democrats and the teachers union, against consultant Brittany Kinser, a supporter of the private school voucher program who is endorsed by Republicans but calls herself a moderate. Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the superintendent broad authority to oversee education policy, from dispersing school funding to managing teacher licensing. The winner will take office at a time when test scores are still recovering from the pandemic, the achievement gap between white and Black students remains the worst in the country and more schools are asking voters to raise property taxes to pay for operations. Underly's education career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana. She moved to Wisconsin in 2005 and worked for five years at the state education department. She also was principal of Pecatonica Elementary School for a year before becoming district administrator. Underly, 47, was elected state superintendent in 2021 and was endorsed by the union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, as well as the Wisconsin Democratic Party and numerous Democratic officeholders. Kinser, whose backers include the Wisconsin Republican Party and former Republican Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, is vying to become the first GOP-affiliated person to hold the superintendent position in more than 30 years. She worked for almost 10 years as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Chicago Public Schools. After that she spent 15 years at public charter schools in Chicago, California and Milwaukee. In the Milwaukee area, Kinser worked for Rocketship schools, part of a national network of public charter institutions, and became its executive director for the region. In 2022 she left Rocketship for City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for charter and voucher schools. She also founded a consulting firm where she currently works. Kinser, 47, tried to brand Underly as being a poor manager of the Department of Public Instruction and keyed in on her overhaul of state achievement standards last year. Underly said that was done to better reflect what students are learning now, but the change was met with bipartisan opposition including from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who was previously state superintendent himself. Evers has not made an endorsement in the race. Kinser said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to evaluate how schools and districts are performing over time. Underly portrayed Kinser as nothing more than a lobbyist who doesn't care about public education. Kinser supports the state's private school voucher and charter school program, which Democrats and Underly oppose on the grounds that such programs siphon needed money away from public schools. Longtime voter ID law could be enshrined in state constitution Wisconsin's photo ID requirement for voting would be elevated from state law to constitutional amendment under a proposal placed on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Even if voters say no to that, the requirement, which has been on the books since 2011, will remain in place as law. It went into effect permanently in 2016 after a series of unsuccessful lawsuits. Republicans pitched the amendment it as a way to bolster election security and protect the law from being overturned in court. Democratic opponents argued that photo ID requirements are often enforced unfairly, making voting more difficult for people of color, disabled people and poor people. If voters pass the measure, it would make it more difficult for a future Legislature controlled by Democrats to change the law. Any constitutional amendment must be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and by a statewide popular vote. Wisconsin is one of nine states where people must present photo ID to vote, and its requirement is the nation's strictest, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-six states have laws requiring or requesting that voters show some sort of identification, according to the NCSL.
