The Sconi

Coming off a successful legislative session in which Wisconsin schools got more money, but not full funding, Gov. Tony Evers took to Twitter earlier this month to call for more equitable education, support and funding for the state's students.

Evers used his Sept. 23 Twitter post congratulating Wisconsin's new public instruction superintendent on her first public address to deliver a State of Education in Wisconsin address over his own. Evers called for more investment in "our kids and our schools" if the state means for its students to be successful.

"And it also means investing in our students of color, our kids experiencing homelessness or poverty, kids with IEPs [Individualized Educational Plan, for children with disabilities] and English language learners," he said. "It means delivering on our constitutional obligation to provide our kids with disabilities and special needs the best education and resources possible. It means supporting and hiring passionate, dedicated and skilled teachers – especially teachers who understand and share the experiences of students of color. It means investing in and supporting our kids needs, whether it's their social, emotional and mental health needs, or technology, programming and curricula."

Dr. Jill Underly, elected state superintendent of Public Instruction in April, arrived in her new position with more than two decades of public education experience, including teaching high school and middle school social studies, and as a University of Wisconsin science academic advisor. Her experience also includes serving as a consultant and assistant director at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, an elementary school principal and a rural school district superintendent.

In her own State of Education Address at the Wisconsin State Capitol, earlier the same day as Evers' Twitter post, Underly provided information about the state's K-12 education and spoke about opportunities and challenges that Wisconsin students, educators and families face. Underly called for more money for Wisconsin education, saying she was "tired of our schools and our children crying for a banquet and when there is the opportunity to have it, being served empty plates by the Legislature."

That comment came after almost $18 billion spent on education in Wisconsin where enrollment is declining, according to a Maciver Institute op-ed about her address.

Enrollment in Wisconsin schools has been declining since the late 1990s, according to a Wisconsin Public Radio news story published almost a year ago.

Underly said it is important to provide equal opportunity for all Wisconsin students, support educators and provide adequate funding "after a decade of fiscal austerity."

"The next chapter of Wisconsin’s history is still being written," Underly said. "And the chapters that follow this one will be written by our children. As we gather in this historic building on the shoulders of those who came before us, let’s harness Wisconsin’s forward-thinking spirit and seize the urgency of this moment. Working together, we can finally live up to our highest ideals and create a stronger, more equitable public education system that meets the needs of every child in every zip code from preschool all the way through higher education. Let’s find the courage and the political will to make the bold, transformative changes and investments our children, our schools and our state need for a successful future."

In his Twitter address, Evers said he and Underly agree that "our kids come first" and that means Wisconsin students should come "before politics and divisiveness." Evers said that he has been trying for a decade to close what Underly called in her address the "opportunity gap."

He also referred to the "great strides in our last budget" in which public schools received two-thirds funding for the first time in two decades and special education also saw increases.

"But Superintendent Underly and I both know we still have much work to do," Evers said. "I look forward to working together with Superintendent Underly and the DPI to meet the needs of every kid from pre-K through college, to trust and support our teachers, and to do what's best for our kids by putting them first."