John Nichols summary

The contest pits two people with very different views against one another. Underly — who taught in rural schools before becoming an elementary school principal, school district superintendent, university academic advisor and administrator, and assistant director at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction — was elected to serve as superintendent in 2021. She’s an ardent advocate for public education.

Kinser, identifies as an education consultant and has lobbied for groups that support school choice and controversial voucher schemes.

In this campaign, Kinser has emerged as a favorite of Wisconsin Republicans. Her bid is being managed by Amy Loudenbeck, a former GOP legislator who in 2022 was the party nominee in a high-stakes but ultimately unsuccessful bid to take over and remake the Wisconsin Office of the Secretary of State. Billionaire Republican megadonors, such as Diane Hendricks and Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, are top supporters of Kinser.

Underly is backed by prominent Democrats, unions and advocates for public education in a race where she argues, “As the Trump administration presses forward with its reckless and destructive slash-and-burn operation impacting Wisconsin’s children and families, historic state investments into public education are not just needed, they are critical to our state’s survival.”

——

Did taxpayer funded Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Underly Juice Test Scores for Reelection?

The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…

The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”

My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results

2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results 

Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.

“An emphasis on adult employment”

Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]

WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators

Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results

Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.

When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?