Department of Public Instruction

How Big a Change Is New UW-Madison Admission Policy?

Students consider new rule that top 5% of state's high school grads guaranteed admission.

Bill That Would Hold Students Back For Truancy Passes First Major Hurdle

Assembly passes bill that would make frequently absent students repeat their current grade, sends it to Senate.

Legislature Approves Reduction in Educator Licensing Requirements

Republican backers say their aim is easing a workforce shortage

Department of Public Instruction Asks Lawmakers To Approve New Reading Curriculum

Proposal overrides the Literacy Council, which DPI says failed to meet deadlines.

Democrats Were For Uncoupling Voucher Funding, Why The Change?

School choice groups asks why Dems ran away from proposal to separate funding from property taxes.

Trans Youth Feel Less Safe Than LGBTQ+ Counterparts At School

Report find more inclusive curricula, protective policies needed.

Assembly Committee Votes To Overhaul Voucher School Funding

Governor Evers has already signaled his opposition.

Should Child Care Providers Teach 4-Year-Old Kindergarten?

Republicans, child care providers support bill pushing this. DPI opposes it.

Open Enrollment Begins For Public, Voucher Schools

With surge in taxpayer funding, voucher school program expected to grow.

Bill Holds Back Students Who Miss More Than 30 Days of School

Policy from Speaker Vos's Task Force on Truancy would affect public and private schools.

Baldwin Helps Deliver Nearly $1.5 Million to Connect Wisconsin Students with Good-Paying Jobs

Office of School Safety to Provide Eleven Regional Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management Trainings Around Wisconsin

Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers 2024 State of the State Address

Gov. Evers Declares 2024 the Year of the Worker

Governor’s declaration builds on administration’s work to bolster state’s workforce in high-demand, high-need industries

Civics Education Bill Focuses on Patriotism

DPI opposes bill and its costs, says it's already working on civics education.

Apprenticeship Bill Targets Teacher Shortage

Students would attend college two years, then teach for two more before graduation.

2023 Roundup: Gov. Evers Highlights 2023 Accomplishments

Three-Agency Collaboration Supports Higher Employment Rates for Individuals with Disabilities

Competitive Integrated Employment Yielding Improved Employment Outcomes

UW Regents Backtrack, Take Republican DEI Deal

Regents vote to accept limits to DEI programs in return for pay raises for 34,000 employees and new engineering building.

Wisconsin Paraprofessionals Would Get Lifetime Teaching Licenses Under Republican Proposal

Bill aims to shrink teacher shortage, but would eliminate many requirements like four-year degrees.

Former Employees of Voucher School Discuss Safety Issues, ‘Third Friday’ Push

HOPE Christian School comes under scrutiny following gym injury.

Marquette University education professor confirmed to Wisconsin’s Professional Standards Council for Teachers

Nearly 1,000 MPS Students Haven’t Attended A Single Day of School This Year

District Attorney's office doesn't have capacity to prosecute all the truancy cases.

Public School Libraries Will See Record Support From State Fund

Common School Fund from sale of public lands up by 25%, hitting record high.

83% Of Public Schools in State Met Expectations on Tests

State report card also shows 80% of private choice schools met expectations.

GOP, RNC Leader Questioned Over No-Bid Contracts From Milwaukee Public Schools

Gerard Randall’s nonprofit received nearly $1.3 million from the district over the past decade. Leaders say he listed them as board officers without their knowledge.

The National Threat Assessment Center and Office of School Safety Present Targeted Violence Prevention Training for Kenosha, Wis. Community

November 1, 2023

Gov. Evers Announces Appointments to Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence

30 task force members, national AI experts set to convene at public task force meeting Oct. 30 in Madison

UW-Madison Programs Aims To Create Pipeline of Milwaukee Teachers

Program would educate 36 special education teachers for MPS across three years.

Gov. Evers Announces State Building Commission Approves Approximately $388.7 Million in Projects Across Wisconsin

MPS Growing International Baccalaureate Program

Earning college credits before graduation at 11 school sites with 15 total IB programs.

Attorney General Josh Kaul Warns of Current Online Dangers and Highlights Online Safety Tools During Keep Your Kids Safe Online Month

October 20, 2023

School Districts Learn How Much State Funding They’ll Get

Allocations for this school year released; MPS gets increase of $53.8 million.

Minocqua Brewery Super PAC Sues to End Voucher Schools

Suit charges they violate state Constitution and are destroying public education.

State Test Scores Up But Still Below Pre-Pandemic Level

Only about 40% proficient with big gap between Black and white students.

State’s Public Schools Have Lost 32,000 Students Since 2019

Key reasons: Lower birth rates and children moving to private and home schools.

Proposal Would Eliminate License Requirement for School Superintendents

Proposal aimed at reducing turnover. DPI in opposition.

State Superintendent, GOP Legislators Duel Over Education

Underly defends DEI, public schools; Republicans push culture war, school choice.

Attorney General Kaul Recognizes #SeeSayDay, Highlights Recent Speak Up, Speak Out Success Story

September 25, 2023

Wisconsin Schools Not Spending Pandemic Aid On Air Quality Improvements

Wisconsin school districts received more than $1.5 billion in federal funds.

The Truth About School Choice

A response from School Choice Wisconsin to earlier op-ed about effectiveness of choice schools.

Conservative Groups Oppose Including Voucher Schools In Transparency Dashboard

Bipartisan panel backs financial transparency dashboard, but School Choice WI and WILL object.

Company Moving HQ To Milwaukee

Mayville Engineering is biggest metal fabricating company in U.S. Plus: Bay View school completes addition and our weekly recap.

Christian School Removed From Choice Program

Holy Redeemer Christian Academy barred from receiving voucher payments by state.

Augustine Prep Opens $49 Million Elementary School

New building allows for major growth. And an even bigger project is planned.

Ramirez Has Big Plans For Cardinal Stritch Campus

$24 million investment will help create northside Augustine Prep, making a mega-school.

Report Finds High Teacher Turnover in State

Problem biggest for MPS and other districts and schools teaching vulnerable populations.

New Program Aimed At Expanding Pool of Special Education Teachers

Federal grant will cover Wisconsin program designed at reducing high turnover,

WEC Voter Education Project Wins National Award

Inside St. Augustine’s Huge Expansion

K4-12 private choice school adding new $49 million school building.

State Outdoes Nation Attracting College Students to Teaching

But Wisconsin still faces K-12 teacher shortage, teacher retention problem.

Bipartisan Legislation Would Prevent Strip Searches In Wisconsin Schools

Proposal is response to Oconto County incident where 6 girls were forced to strip down to underwear.

Gov. Evers Signs Bill Aimed at Improving Literacy Outcomes for Kids Statewide

Governor approves compensation plan bills to help bolster state workforce

Federal Aid Hasn’t Closed Pandemic-Induced Learning Gap

Wisconsin is on track to spend its $2.4 billion in aid by 2024 deadline.

State’s Schools Had Nearly 7,000 Instances of Student Physical Restraint

DPI data from 2021-22 shows 76% of students restrained have a disability.

Evers, Vos Argue Over Amended State Budget

Evers reshaped budget with 51 partial vetoes, trades words with Republicans.

Evers’ Veto Pen Gives School Districts 400 Years of Funding

Trimming budget bill text to let school districts collect an added $325 per student annually.

State Budget Gives No Funding Increase to 40% of School Districts

Total funding up 3% but Madison got a decrease and Racine got 22% increase.

‘They Die So Quickly’ From Fentanyl

50 times more potent than heroin, causing more than 1,000 overdose deaths per year in Wisconsin.

MPS Seeks To Revise School Calendar

Seeking earlier start to 2024-25 school year for elementary students, creating a uniform calendar for system.

The Winners In Shared Revenue, K-12 Funding Deal

Everyone could claim victory. But who won -- and lost -- the most?

Even After Change, DPI Opposes Reading Bill

Issue centers on proposal to hold third graders back.

Meet Up And Eat Up, Milwaukee! Summer Meals Program Provides Three Daily Meals to Kids, Teens and Families

Kickoff event highlighted Summer Meals, educational and recreational programs at 140+ sites throughout Milwaukee County

Bill Includes Largest Expansion Ever of Private School Choice

A hike of 13% for K-8 voucher schools and 33% for high schools, union official says.

Republicans Have $50 Milllion, Science-Based Plan To Revamp How Children Learn To Read

DPI Superintendent says bill is "non-starter" as it includes 3rd grade retention requirement.

Remote Work Proves Durable in Wisconsin

400,000 in state, or 15% of workforce, now work remotely.

In Transfers, Public Schools Often Deny Students With Disabilities

Charter and choice "cherry picking" is well known. But public schools also involved through open enrollment.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies Common at State’s Voucher Schools

Some taxpayer-supported private schools expel students for being gay or transgender.

Survey of Wisconsin High Schoolers Finds Increase In Depression, Screen Time

50% report having anxiety, 33% depression. Recreational use of digital devices growing.

College Completion Program Showing Impressive Results

All-In Milwaukee focused on students from lower-income families.

State’s Students Missed Nearly a Month of School Last Year

Chronic absenteeism climbing since start of pandemic, particular high at MPS.

Bipartisan Plan Aims To Change How Children Learn To Read

Phonics-focused curriculum would be modeled after efforts in more than 30 other states.

Taxpayers Support Schools That Can Discriminate

Dozens of voucher schools have policies excluding LGBTQ+ and disabled students.

Assembly Bill Requires High School Financial Literacy Class

Would be required for graduation. Cost of requirement concerns schools.

Ozaukee County’s First Private High School Proposed

Owner of shooting gallery plans Christian school based on Hillsdale College curriculum.

Check Out Wisconsin State Parks At Your Library Program Expands

State Superintendent Urges Legislators To ‘Do Their Job,’ Boost School Funding

Jill Underly 'surprised and hurt' that Joint Finance Committee hasn't invited her to testify.

School Board Candidates

Three contested races, including a citywide race.

State Data on Student Transfers Missing

MPS suspects private schools push students out after getting them counted for state aid.

DWD Launches “Welcome to the Workforce” Initiative with Webinar, Speakers Series for Teens, Parents, and Employers

Webinar and Speaker Events Offer Guidance on Rights, Responsibilities and Employment Success

Assembly Passes School Crime, Conversion Therapy Bills

Bill provides no funding for school resource officers. Democrats oppose both bills.

Evers Proposes Free School Lunches for All Students

Proposed $120 million program would help students, families and farmers, governor says.

Should State’s Schools Require Financial Literacy Course?

17 states require it. Evers, some Republicans favor it, but won't fully fund it.

Democrats Push Free School Meals Plan

Evers' budget includes $120 million to create 'Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids' program.

Bill Would Require Armed School Resource Officers

Republican proposal requires all schools to track crimes, hire officer after enough incidents.

Dan Kelly Doesn’t Stand With Wisconsinites on Public Education

A Better Wisconsin Together takes a closer look at Kelly’s close connections with groups that maliciously target public schools

WILL, SCW Threaten Wisconsin DPI with Legal Action Due to Bureaucratic Overreach in School Choice Program

Open Enrollment Plummeting at MPS

Down 44% in past decade, while numbers continue to grow for the state.

Will Police Officers Return to MPS Schools?

Activist groups oppose proposal, reportedly being discussed by MPD and school district.

Gov. Evers to Announce Plan to Build Upon “Kai 11” Bill, Invest in EKG Screening Pilot to Protect Student-Athlete Health

Mother, loved ones of Kai Lermer to attend as governor’s guests to 2023-25 biennial budget message

Gov. Evers Announces Budget Initiatives to Do What’s Best for Kids, Support K-12 Schools

Governor’s plan aims to improve reading and literacy outcomes, expand access to mental health services and school nutrition, address staffing shortages to help keep class sizes small, and increase per pupil and special education aids

Meet The Candidates Seeking Open State Senate Seat

Three Republicans, one Democrat running for seat held by retiring Sen Alberta Darling.

Big Numbers Drive Budget Decisions

Which 5 programs account for 84% of state budget? And when was the beer tax last increased?

DOJ, DPI, DHS NTER Launch Targeted Violence Prevention Course

Acts of targeted violence continue to impact the safety and security of our communities.

Gov. Evers: State of Mental Health “Burgeoning Crisis”

Governor declares 2023 the Year of Mental Health

Three Contested Milwaukee School Board Seats On April Ballot

Plus: two uncontested races. Meet the candidates.

St. Augustine’s New Elementary School Quickly Rising

St. Augustine will be the largest single-campus school in Milwaukee when building is completed this fall.

Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves Declares Candidacy for Milwaukee Public School Board, District #1

2022 Roundup: Gov. Evers Highlights 2022 Accomplishments

2022 Roundup: Gov. Evers Completes 2022 72-County Tour of Wisconsin