Department of Public Instruction

Education Dept. Confirms, WI GOP Throwing Away $1.5 Billion in Federal Aid for Education

GOP Lawmakers Cut Evers’ Special Ed Funding Proposal

Republican state legislators reduce special education reimbursement in budget proposal.

State’s Schools Reassess Mask Mandates

As CDC loosens requirements, some districts stick with masks, some make it optional.

Private School Voucher Costs Rising

GOP-controlled Legislature backs further voucher expansion in biennial budget.

Underly Announces Transition Team

New state school superintendent promises “more offense, less defense."

About That Data on Charter Schools

Diving deeper into charter school data and polls of voters tells interesting story.

Are State’s Schools Rolling In Dough?

Republican legislators think Milwaukee Public Schools getting away with something.

Nonpartisan Races Getting Too Partisan

State superintendent race and school policies should not be so politicized.

The Paradox of Voucher Schools

They work better than MPS schools for minority students. Yet most Democrats oppose them.

New State COVID-19 Testing For Schools

Federally funded testing program for students and staff aims to ‘decrease disruptions in classrooms.'

Governor Evers, DHS Announce More Than $175 Million to Support COVID-19 Testing in Schools

MPS Is Just As Bad as Police Department

Both are racist systems and both need wholesale reform.

DPI Finds Burlington Schools Racially Biased

School system took discriminatory actions and tolerated racially hostile environment, ruling finds.

GOP Legislators Question Federal Pandemic Aid for MPS

MPS getting 36% of $2.2 billion for state schools under federal formula prioritizing high poverty districts.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin on Spring Election Wins

Underly Defeats Kerr In State Superintendent Race

Deborah Kerr conceded just after 9:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Democrats Celebrate Underly as Newly Elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Democrats Continue To Build Momentum, Organizing Infrastructure Leading Into 2022 Midterm Elections

Meet the District 5 School Board Candidates

Alex Brower and Jilly Gokalgandhi compete to replace outgoing school board director Larry Miller.

Kerr Supports Voucher Program, Decentralizing DPI

State superintendent candidate Kerr has been an ardent supporter of reopening schools.

Underly Running on Education Equity, Ending Vouchers

As a candidate for state superintendent, Underly has backing of state teachers union.

Reconsidering ACT Tests, School Report Cards

Questions after pandemic. Fears that schools serving poor students may get punished.

The Adults are Failing the Kids

Kerr, Underly Strike Sparks In Debate

Candidates for state school superintendent reveal very different views on voucher schools, other issues.

34 State Legislators Endorse Jill Underly for State Superintendent

Wisconsin to Issue Benefits to Children Missing Free or Reduced Price School Meals Because of COVID-19 Pandemic

DHS is working in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Children and Families, and schools across the state to implement the program for the 2020-2021 school year

Kerr: Open Schools and Get DPI Out of Madison

Get our kids back to school and get DPI back to working for families

Evers Proposes COVID-19 Child Care Aid

Spending $132 million in federal funds for this requires GOP legislators' approval.

Wisconsin Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in WILL Religious Liberty Lawsuit

Senate Debates High School Sports Eligibility

Should virtual and charter school students be able to participate in district school’s extracurriculars?

The Hammer of Student Testing

Republican legislators may use tests as a way to force schools to reopen.

Wisconsin Democrats Endorse Dr. Jill Underly for State Superintendent

It’s Kerr and Underly for State Superintendent

Field of seven candidates narrow to two, with Underly the anti-voucher school candidate.

GOP Plan Puts Students, Teachers At Risk?

Legislators require federal education aid to be used to push in-school instruction.

State Superintendent Candidates Make Their Pitch

With eyes on Tuesday’s election, 7 views of the Wisconsin’s education future.

Federal COVID-19 Aid Funneled to In-Person Schools

State GOP lawmakers' plan penalizes school districts that provided virtual instruction.

7 Seek State School Superintendent Job

Who are they and what are the key issues in the February primary race?

Giving Schools a Shot in the Arm

Vaccinating teachers would enable schools to reopen. But it’s not that simple.

WEAC Educators Recommend Jill Underly for State Superintendent

MPS Finalizes Reopening Plans

Schools will bring students back in phases.

School Boards Debate Racial Mascots

Tough talk, but Wisconsin Association of School Boards passes watered down resolution.

Pandemic Worsens State’s Broadband Gap

Rural areas and urban poor left out. Evers calls 2021 the "Year of Broadband Access."

The Campaign to Save Snow Days

Will virtual classes replace snow days where kids got a break from school? Not all officials agree.

State Superintendent Candidates Raise $200,000

Which candidates have raised the most and who are the top donors?

Over 50% of State’s Schools Use Restraints on Students

Elementary students and students with disabilities restrained and secluded the most.

Republicans Dare Evers to Veto Bill

Their COVID-19 bill includes immunity from liability for businesses violating pandemic restrictions.

State Superintendent Candidates Debate

Seven candidates include teachers, principals, superintendents and policy experts.

Gov. Evers, DCF Announce Wisconsin Awarded $30 Million Federal Grant for Early Care and Education

Dr. Hendricks Unveils Student Bill of Rights

Evers Reflects on Year of Pandemic, Protests

Proud of his administration’s response to COVID-19, “we turned that around a little bit.”

Dr. Shandowlyon Hendricks Declares Candidacy for WI State Superintendent

School Nurses Step Up During Pandemic

300 in public school districts play a role in tracking, teaching about disease.

DPI budget proposal provides support “our kids deserve” say public education advocates

AFP-WI Urges Governor Evers to Reject DPI’s Budget Request

MPS Faces Exodus of Younger Students

District’s kindergarten and pre-K enrollment down by 1,544 students.

Public School Enrollment Drops 3%

Drop is likely due to pandemic.

More than $14 million approved for transportation alternatives

Teachers ‘At The End of Their Rope’, Union Leader Says

Calls for no in-person classes unless communities meet benchmarks set by health experts.

School Districts Battle Over In-Person Classes

Parents push for this as health officials, teachers say state’s spiking pandemic makes this unsafe.

The Pandemic is Disrupting Childhood

Seclusion and major changes to daily life can have effects on mental health.

Judge Rules DPI Violated State Law in Release of 2019 School Choice Data

WILL sued after DPI selectively released data in violation of state law

“A Chance for a Better Life”

State Supreme Court Is Radically Activist

Record shows many examples of grabbing cases before lower courts rule.

ACLU of Wisconsin Stresses Need for Equity, Safety Amid Pandemic During Upcoming School Year

Evers Says No Statewide School Re-Opening Plan

School districts will be responsible for decisions about re-opening.

First Lady Evers Announces the Wisconsin 19th Amendment Celebration Committee’s New “Women Who Inspire” Nominee

Committee celebrates Deanna Singh, Brookfield

How Will Schools Use CARES Funding?

The pandemic is proving very expensive for schools.

What To Expect with MPS Reopening

Answers to questions about testing, childcare and sick leave for teachers.

Gov. Evers Announces K-12 Schools Eligible for $46.6 Million

Kowalik Still Resists School Reopenings

City health leader says schools must get approved plan to reopen, with precise rules still to come.

Public Schools Fight for Funding

MPS, other public school districts have gotten no federal CARES funding while choice and charter schools get millions.

MPS Will Begin School Year Virtually

School districts aren't prepared to educate in person with current levels of COVID-19.

The City of Milwaukee Phase 4 Assessment Update—MKE Cares mask ordinance in effect & clarification on school openings

Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order Creating Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access

Choice, Charter Schools Get Big Payday

Federal Paycheck Protection grants don’t fund public schools but do fund private schools.

Evers Won’t Issue New Shutdown Order

Cites Republican and Supreme Court opposition even as state cases double in just one month.

Beloit Billionaire Starts Charter School

Children need better schools, says Diane Hendricks. It’s “divide and conquer,” says city official.

Gov. Evers Announces Statewide Efforts to Distribute PPE to Schools, Food Processors, Businesses

Will MPS End Truancy Program?

Under state law school system pays for four police officers in TABS program.

State Rules for School Voucher Applications Changed

A lawsuit has just made it easier for families to prove they're eligible for school choice vouchers.

DPI Drops Illegal Policy After WILL Lawsuit

WILL sued DPI for blocking family from state voucher program

K-12 Teachers Don’t Reflect Students’ Diversity

Study finds state's teachers of color up by 22.5% in last decade while students of color rose 28%.

Gov. Evers Announces More Than $80 Million in COVID-19 Financial Assistance to K-12 Schools and Higher Education Institutions

High Rate of Turnover for School Superintendents

Some superintendents leap frog from district to district, advancing their career or salary.

Evers Meets With Lawmakers on Police Reform

Governor says the state is at a "watershed moment" for the issue of police reform, racism.

Christian Family Solutions Expands Mental Health Counseling Services to Inner-City Milwaukee Students with $100,000 Grant from Bader Philanthropies

CFS’ outpatient counseling and day treatment programs provide trauma-informed and culturally sensitive therapies to Milwaukee children at little to no cost to students and schools.

Summer Schools Will Be Mostly Online

Amid pandemic, school districts in Milwaukee, other cities, will stick to virtual learning.

Wisconsin’s Lousy Record for Women in Politics

Two politicos talk about getting more women in elected offices.

Wisconsin DOJ Employees Honored by U.S. DOJ for Efforts to Rescue Missing and Exploited Children

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Nearly $20 Million in AmeriCorps Funding For Wisconsin

Gov. Evers Announces Appointments to Governor’s Task Force on Student Debt

Rural Educator Running for State Superintendent

Jill Underly, superintendent of the Pecatonica School District, wants to address educational inequities caused by poverty.

Jill Underly Announces Candidacy for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Evers Orders Budget Cuts

State losing billions in revenue due to the economic shutdown.

Wisconsin to Provide Temporary Food Benefits for Children Missing School Meals

Near-Record Year for School Referendums

Spring election’s voters pass more than 80% of local school funding referendums.

School Districts Adjust to Distance Learning

Drop-offs, drive-ups and digital classrooms being used in state’s schools.

MPS Teachers Using Tech To Engage Students

The district isn't holding online classes, but some teachers are still at work.