As Wisconsin voters prepare for the upcoming election on April 1, the race for the state’s top education position has become one of the most divisive contests on the ballot. With early voting set to begin soon, the battle pits Jill Underly, the incumbent, who is backed by teachers’ unions and Democrats, against Brittany Kinser, a Republican-endorsed candidate with strong support for school vouchers. The outcome of this race could shape education policies for years to come in the battleground state.
In addition to the education race, voters will also decide on a voter ID constitutional amendment, a proposal that would enshrine the state’s strict photo ID requirement for voting in the state constitution. However, it is the education race that is drawing significant attention, given its potential to influence Wisconsin’s K-12 education system.
A divided race for education leadership
Jill Underly, who was elected state superintendent in 2021, faces a tough challenge from Kinser, a former charter school leader and current education consultant. Underly’s education career spans over two decades, beginning as a social studies teacher in Indiana in 1999 before moving to Wisconsin in 2005. As reported by the Associated Press, she has been a strong advocate for public schools and is endorsed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) and the state’s Democratic Party.
Underly’s opponent, Brittany Kinser, brings a different perspective to the race. Kinser, who previously served as executive director for Rocketship schools, a national network of charter schools, has earned the endorsement of Wisconsin Republicans. Kinser advocates for expanding charter and voucher schools, which has put her at odds with Underly and other public school supporters. “Instead of fighting for students, Kinser is standing with the far-right politicians who are trying to rip resources away from our schools,” Underly said, according to the Associated Press.
Voucher schools and education funding at the forefront
Central to the election is the debate over school vouchers and education funding. Underly has been vocal in her opposition to the expansion of voucher programs, which critics argue siphon public funds to private schools. She also highlighted the potential elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, a change she strongly opposes. Kinser, on the other hand, has downplayed the importance of federal oversight, stating that Wisconsin can navigate any changes coming from Washington as long as it continues receiving federal funding.
As reported by the Associated Press, the race is drawing sharp partisan divisions. Kinser has criticized Underly’s management of the Department of Public Instruction, especially her overhaul of state achievement standards, which Kinser argues lowered academic expectations. This, combined with the larger national discussions on education reform, has turned Wisconsin’s education leadership contest into a critical issue for voters.
In a state where education policy is increasingly tied to political affiliation, the race for top education official is set to shape the future of Wisconsin’s K-12 system for years to come.
