The Sconi

The manager for Brittany Kinser’s campaign for Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Superintendent said the race has become a test of leadership for the state's top education office.

“There’s no easy way to say it: Wisconsin kids are worse off today than they were before Jill Underly became DPI Superintendent – and Wisconsin parents, teachers, and school leaders see it every day,” Amy Loudenbeck, Kinser’s campaign manager, said in a memo released by the campaign.

Only three out of ten Wisconsin students are career- or college-ready, and 95% of Black students in Milwaukee cannot read at grade level, said the campaign memo. The memo also cited Governor Tony Evers’ decision to audit Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), stating that Evers “was compelled to step in and audit” the district “because Underly failed to hold them accountable.”

Underly has defended her record and publicly stated she has "no regrets" about her handling of MPS, the memo said.

The April 1 general election for Wisconsin DPI Superintendent follows a primary with record-breaking voter participation. In that race, incumbent Jill Underly secured only 50% of the vote in Dane County and 46% in Milwaukee County, while Kinser outperformed past moderate candidates, increasing her vote share in 49 counties. According to the Kinser campaign, 62% of primary voters cast ballots for someone other than Underly.

Brittany Kinser is a first-time candidate with a background as a public school teacher, principal, and education advocate. She co-founded 95 Wisconsin, an initiative focused on achieving 95% reading proficiency for students. Kinser has also outpaced Underly in fundraising, raising more than $500,000 compared to Underly’s $132,000.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) oversees the state’s public school system and education policy. The department plays a role in curriculum standards, funding allocations, and school accountability. The superintendent is elected on a nonpartisan ballot and serves a four-year term.