Incumbent Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser, and Jeff Wright are running in the nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin’s superintendent of public instruction on Feb. 18, 2025. The top two finishers will then run in a general election on April 1, 2025.
PBS Wisconsin’s Steven Potter wrote, “Although the position is described as non-partisan, the job of running the state’s public school system is anything but apolitical. This is largely because of school system funding battles between the governor and the state Legislature, but also due to high-profile contemporary political issues that include transgender student policies, school library book access and bans, police in schools, and other contentious matters.”
Incumbent Underly is seeking re-election to a second term as superintendent. She was first elected in 2021, defeating Deborah Kerr 57.6% to 42.3%. Underly is campaigning on getting more funding for Wisconsin schools, saying, “Our state has been underfunding schools for a long time, and we need to make the necessary investments so Wisconsin kids get a great education, and are able to compete in the global economy.” Underly has also campaigned on increasing teacher recruitment and says she supports “additional funding to look at programs like teacher apprenticeship, look at things like grow your own programs, which are taking adults who may be already working your school but aren’t licensed as teachers and investing in them.” The Wisconsin Democratic Party endorsed Underly.
Kinser is an education consultant, a former special education teacher, and a nonprofit executive. Kinser is campaigning on changing the state’s curriculum, and says “We must prioritize reading, writing, math and science to provide the foundation for meaningful careers and a bright future.” She is also focusing on publishing test scores earlier saying, “It’s being transparent and getting people the information, parent and schools especially, so that they can see what’s working and what’s not working.” Kinser says she does not align with either party. The CEO of the conservative think tank the Institute for Reforming Government, CJ Szafir says “I don’t think there’s any real daylight between what conservatives want in the DPI and what Brittany wants to do at the DPI.”
Wright is the superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District. He ran for Assembly District 51 in 2016 and 2018 as a Democrat. Wright’s website says he will “make sure the DPI has a clear and collaborative strategic vision built on solutions that bridge regional, economic, and political divides.” Wright also says he would “mak[e] sure that we’re listening to everyone and that we make sure that our doors aren’t closed to people, regardless of their opinion, especially if their children are in our schools.” The political action committee of the Wisconsin Education Association Council endorsed Wright.
Following similar changes to standardized tests in other states, in 2024, the Department of Public Instruction revised how the state measured student performance with its Forward Exam. The department modified the terms used to describe student performance and lowered the threshold for students to receive a positive evaluation. Test scores subsequently increased compared to past years after the Department implemented the new standards. However, the changes faced criticism, including from Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R). Moreover, state Republicans have supported a bill to restore the standards to what they were previously. The bill has become a factor in the race.
Underly says the changes were necessary, writing in an opinion piece, “In recent years, Wisconsin’s standards in various subjects were updated to better reflect what students should know and be able to do in the classroom…This meant the Forward Exam needed to be updated to accurately assess students on those learning goals.” Kinser supports the proposal to restore the old standard, saying, “I 100% agree with the new proposal for the new bill to ensure that our standards are restored and agree with the governor also that they need to be restored.” Wright is also critical of new standards and say legislators proposed the bill “because of the absence of system-wide collaboration and open communication…I look forward to working with our Legislature as a nonpartisan problem solver to do what is right for our schools.”
As of February 3, 2025, Underly has raised $39,070 and spent $28,131, Kinser has raised $15,000 and spent $0, and Wright has raised $84,793 and spent $5,634. The 2021 election was the most expensive in the state’s history with $2.98 million being spent among candidates and satellite groups. To read more about fundraising in this race, click here.