Wisconsin State Superintendent Comments on Diversity and Inclusion in Schools

Monday, September 25th, 2023 -- 1:01 PM

(By Corrinne Hess, Wisconsin Public Radio) There is a battle underway in Wisconsin and across the nation over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in schools.

According to Corrinne Hess with the Wisconsin Public Radio, on Thursday, State Superintendent Jill Underly decided to join the fight. Underly, who has led the state’s public school system since April 2021, said some elected officials are trying to "homogenize learning in a way that is just not reflective of historical or current reality, or of a child’s lived experience."

Her remarks during the annual State of Education Address come as Wisconsin public-school teachers have come under fire for teaching books or songs deemed offensive and some school boards have banned "safe space" signs and stickers for LGBTQ+ students.

"This is a good moment to remember that curriculum which reflects the diversity of the human struggle and progress is, in fact, reflective of the history of this country, and that affirming that the lives of our Black, Indigenous and students of color matter is not political. It is a statement of fact," Underly said. "Also, it bears remembering that safety is a requisite for every kid, and creating safety for LGBTQ+ kids is not controversial. It is the bare minimum."

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has said he will try to block pay raises for University of Wisconsin employees unless the university cuts DEI spending by $32 million. Vos did not respond for comment.

Underly began her address calling for hope in times of division and uncertainty. She told the children's story of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and its "messy transformation" into a butterfly as an analogy of what has happened in public education.

"There is, I know, a lot of mess," she said. "We’re through a global pandemic. We’re seeing mental health challenges that have been mounting for too long turn into a burgeoning crisis. There is so much division and hate, because it’s easy to stoke fear in times of shifting and uncertainty and change."

Education has become a political hot button issue. This year, the state budget included the largest financial expansion to private school choice in the program's history. Taxpayer funding for kindergarten through eighth grade private choice schools is now $9,500 per student.

Funding for private choice high schools is $12,000 per student. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers increased per pupil spending for public school students $325 per year for 402 years, although Republican legislators hope to undo that.

Still, despite the political climate, a sweeping bipartisan reading bill was passed this year to improve how children learn to read. Underly said that, too, was messy. But she’s "100 percent" confident it will make a difference for children.

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