Most Wisconsin parents don’t spend much time thinking about how the state superintendent of public instruction is chosen. They’re focused on whether their child can read confidently by third grade, whether math finally clicks or whether their local school can attract and keep strong teachers. But the way Wisconsin selects its top education official quietly shapes all of those outcomes – and it deserves closer attention.
As more responsibility for education shifts back to the states, how Wisconsin governs its schools matters more than ever. Federal retrenchment, expanded state flexibility and recent court decisions limiting federal agency authority have left governors and legislatures with greater power – and greater responsibility – for results. That shift makes governance structures more important, not less. Wisconsin’s continued practice of electing its superintendent of public instruction now works against accountability and clarity at precisely the wrong time.
The position dates back to 1848, when Wisconsin’s founders were wary of concentrating power in a single executive. That caution made sense in a young, rural state with a modest system of common schools. It makes far less sense today. The modern Department of Public Instruction oversees billions of dollars, administers complex federal programs, and manages responsibilities comparable to other major state agencies. This is not a symbolic or representative role. It is an executive job that demands management skill, policy coherence, and operational experience.
State fills top role with off-cycle election
Yet Wisconsin fills the role through a low-turnout, off-cycle statewide election. In practice, these races are shaped by the groups most consistently engaged in education policy and most capable of organizing around an otherwise low-profile contest. Education associations and other stakeholders routinely provide endorsements, funding and visibility that matter far more than broad public participation – patterns reflected in campaign finance records maintained by the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Many voters, meanwhile, struggle to name the candidates, much less evaluate their administrative experience.