Wisconsin Superintendent Underly Calls Federal Government Biggest Schoolyard Bully

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, in her 2025 State of Education address, sharply criticized the Trump administration's approach to federal education policy, calling it the "biggest schoolyard bully" due to its withholding and freezing of critical federal education funds, including millions allocated for special education programs. She condemned the federal government's use of funding as a bargaining chip, accusing it of sowing confusion, creating chaos, and eroding trust in public schools, while also criticizing political agendas that attack inclusive and diverse education environments. Underly highlighted chronic underfunding at the state level, which forces districts to rely on tax referendums for basic operating costs, and decried state legislative actions that divert resources from public schools to voucher programs for private education. She called for political unity and sustainable investment in public education to ensure equity, inclusivity, and adequate support for students, educators, and families. Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu responded by labeling the public education system as "unaccountable" and criticized Underly's changes to state testing benchmarks. Underly's address emphasized the need for action beyond pride to address systemic challenges and uphold the promise of public education in Wisconsin.