State Superintendent Underly on Education Priorities if Reelected

Voters in Wisconsin will be heading to the polls on February 18. And on the ballot? The candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Dr. Jill Underly is the incumbent and joins Pat Kreitlow, host of UpNorthNews Radio, to discuss her education priorities if reelected.

She believes it’s important to invest in education as a way to ensure that students are both career and college ready when they graduate. It is also Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and Underly explains how these programs are not only engaging students but preparing them for the workforce.

“These CTE programs have expanded beyond traditional fields like welding and auto mechanics,” Underly says. “It now includes areas such as culinary arts, design, and health occupations.”

Underly also highlights the progress made in Wisconsin’s schools during her first term. She notes the record high graduation rates and increased investment in mental health resources along with teacher retention. She also points out the importance of her proposed school funding budget, which aims to address the needs of schools to prevent districts from resorting to referendums for funding.

Kreitlow asks about any challenges posed by political forces, and in particular, the ongoing debate about school vouchers and privatization. 

“As more states are beginning to question the fiscal sustainability of voucher systems, I am advocating for a halt to the expansion of vouchers in Wisconsin to prioritize the health of public schools,” Underly responds.

Standardized testing is another topic of discussion. Underly explains there are recent changes to Wisconsin’s state exams. The modifications are aimed at ensuring the tests are more meaningful and were made in collaboration with educators across the state. These changes include raising standards in subjects like math and science and adding career and technical education standards to the exam.

Underly is focused on continuing her advocacy for public schools, while arguing that a strong investment in public education is key to both the state’s workforce and its future.

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Listen to the complete segment as a podcast here:

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