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Highlights successes, confronts federal threats and uncertainty, calls on Wisconsin to write better story for students, educators, schools
MADISON — Describing public education as a living story shaped by students, educators and communities, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today called on Wisconsinites to come together and write the next chapters of the state’s education journey.
"This is our wake-up call; this is the mirror we must face," Dr. Underly said during the 2025 State of Education Address at the Wisconsin State Capitol. "Will we be the generation that looked away as our schools crumbled? Or will we be the ones who stood up, kept our promise, and chose to write a different story?"
Surrounded by students, educators, and community leaders, Dr. Underly reflected on both the real progress in Wisconsin’s public schools and the urgent challenges that threaten their future. She also pushed back against abrupt federal policy shifts that undermine the stability of schools, and the well-being of students and educators.
"We teach our children to stand up to bullies, but this year, the biggest schoolyard bully in our public schools is our own federal government,” Dr. Underly said. "We will not allow politics or outside forces to rewrite the story of Wisconsin’s public schools. We will not stand by while the future of our children is at stake. We will fight. We will lead. And we will stand up for every student, every educator, and every community in this state."
Despite these challenges, Dr. Underly celebrated key educational success across the state, including record-high graduation rates, strong performance at or above national averages on key assessments, expansion of STEM and career and technical education opportunities, and bipartisan early literacy reform.
"Public education in Wisconsin is not just a system — it is a living story written daily by the people who believe in its promise," Dr. Underly said. "Our public schools are strong, inclusive, supportive, welcoming and resilient. They are places where every child belongs, where diversity is celebrated — not demonized. Where differences aren’t feared but embraced and seen as opportunities to grow together as human beings."
Dr. Underly’s address was marked by a compelling story from the Adams-Friendship Area School District, a small rural district where 71% of students are economically disadvantaged. Yet, bold, student-centered innovation is thriving.
"Despite the odds, Adams-Friendship is seeing meaningful progress," Dr. Underly said. "They’ve built a culture centered on relationships, resilience, and purpose. People come to the district to make a difference — and they do, every single day."
During her remarks, Dr. Underly outlined a four-part vision for transforming public education in Wisconsin, aligned with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s strategic plan.
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Innovative education: Empowering learners through forward-thinking approaches.
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Educator recruitment and retention: Supporting a strong, sustainable educator workforce.
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Learner and educator mental health: Promoting well-being in every learning environment.
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Modernization and improvement of the DPI: Building a more effective, efficient department.
The 2025 State of Education Address featured performances from student musicians across the state, including the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Wire Choir from Chippewa Falls Senior High School, and students from Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Middleton High School. Dr. Underly also honored the 2025-26 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year, emphasizing that supporting educators is essential to student and school success.
"Attracting and keeping great teachers is one of the most urgent challenges we face,” Dr. Underly said. “If we want to keep writing our story of hope and opportunity, we must stand by the people who make that story possible in the first place — our educators.
"Strong schools start with strong teachers. And strong teachers deserve more than our gratitude or appreciation — they deserve our respect, our investment, and our collective commitment to helping them write a better story for every student in Wisconsin."
Dr. Underly closed her address with an emotional call to move the metaphorical "fence" that too often excludes vulnerable students — including LGBTQ+ youth, children of color, English learners, students living in poverty, and more.
"The debates taking place in the public sphere — and right here in this Capitol building — aren’t about sports, they are about something much deeper: whether kids are allowed to belong," Dr. Underly said. "When adults build fences to keep them out, when we tell them that they don’t belong, it is not just cruel, it is dangerous. Because when we fail to move the fence — when we allow kids to feel excluded or overlooked — it shows up in their schools and in their learning."
The full 2025 State of Education Address, as prepared for delivery, is available on the DPI’s website.
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Contact: Media.Inquiries@dpi.wi.gov
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