After Evers dropped the 2017 rule changes while serving as state superintendent, neither his successor, Carolyn Stanford Taylor, nor the current state superintendent, Jill Underly, promulgated similar measures. Underly says the Department of Public Instruction is now working on two related rules, though.
Facing pressure from critics after the Cap Times investigation, Underly in recent weeks has called on legislators to better define grooming in state law and argued existing laws don’t give the Department of Public Instruction enough power for its investigations. The department has also published additional information about surrendered or revoked licenses and pledged to provide more details in the future.
Evers ran the agency for about a decade, starting in 2009. Voters first elected Evers governor in 2018 and to another four-year term in 2022.
When he took office as governor in 2019, Evers appointed Stanford Taylor to lead the Department of Public Instruction for the remainder of his term. Voters then elected Underly to be state superintendent in 2021 and to another four-year term in April.
Evers and Underly declined requests for interviews.
In a statement, Underly said proposed rule changes under Evers predated her administration, and the agency has been working for more than a year on an administrative rule creating an educator code of ethics.
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Wisconsin Legislature launches audit of DPI licensing processes following sexual misconduct, grooming cases