Leaders, advocates react to Underly’s 2026 State of Education address
- State Superintendent Jill Underly called for increased public school funding in her annual State of Education address.
- Democrats praised Underly’s speech, agreeing that schools have been underfunded for decades.
- Critics argued the focus should be on improving student outcomes rather than simply increasing spending.
State Superintendent Jill Underly’s call for increased school funding drew praise from Democrats following her annual address Sept. 24, but critics said the state should focus more on improving student outcomes rather than spending additional money.
Underly spoke Sept. 24 at the state Capitol in Madison for her 2026 State of Education address. Ahead of the November election, Underly called on Wisconsin residents to choose leaders “who are pro-public school, pro-child and pro-Wisconsin.” She also urged lawmakers to increase investments in the state’s public school districts, which she said have cut programs, increased class sizes or relied on taxpayers due to “decades of below-inflation funding.”
A running theme throughout Underly’s speech was the connection between public schools and America’s 250th anniversary. “If we didn’t have public schools,” she said, “we really wouldn’t be celebrating 250 years of democracy.”
In a statement, state Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, said Underly “highlighted the understanding our founding fathers had nearly 250 years ago, that public education plays a pertinent role in democracy.”
“We must honor our founders and our constitution by ensuring Wisconsin’s children receive an adequately-funded public education so we can move forward, together,” Vining said.
Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said he appreciated Underly “calling out what is wrong and what is needed.”
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Notes and links on the taxpayer funded Wisconsin DPI and Jill Underly.
