State Superintendent announces changes after report on educators accused of sexual misconduct

Wisconsin State Superintendent Jill Underly announced several changes on Tuesday to strengthen student safety amid criticism of her agency’s handling of accusations of sexual misconduct by educators.

Underly also announced DPI would create a new online database to expand DPI’s existing pubic license look-up tool so the public can see teacher licenses that have been revoked or surrendered.

“Our process is strong and our commitment to transparency is unwavering,” Underly said. “But that does not mean we are standing still.” 

During a Senate Committee on Education hearing hours later, Underly said some have chosen to use the “deeply sensitive issue” of child sexual assault to score political points. 

“I’m interested in protecting Wisconsin’s children, all of them, and that includes children in public, private and charter schools alike,” Underly told the Senate committee. “Our focus should be on solutions. Because parents, guardians and families deserve action. Not finger-pointing or political theater.”

The statements were the first time Underly spoke publicly since the Cap Times published a story that found the Department of Public Instruction investigated more than 200 accusations of sexual misconduct or grooming behaviors by teachers, aids, substitutes and administrators between 2018 and 2023.

Underly said it is DPI’s job to conduct investigations, and not every investigation is credible.

During a 90-minute hearing, senators asked Underly why they didn’t know there were so many investigations before the newspaper article. And they questioned Underly about if DPI had enough staff to adequately handle the caseload. 

There are about 113 open educator misconduct cases a year. DPI has 1.5 full-time equivalent employees, plus a legal team handling those cases, Underly said. 

Underly told the committee that cases were often referred to DPI by school districts and were handled “swiftly and decisively.”

Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, said he was alarmed when reading the article to see a DPI spokesperson blame the Legislature for not giving the department enough resources. He said Underly had never let elected officials know there was a problem. 

“We just want to make sure no parent in Wisconsin has to wonder if the system bureaucracy protects bureaucracy, the establishment protects establishment, protects the wrong person,” Jagler said. 

This week, state Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, and Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, introduced legislation to create a new criminal offense that specifically defines and penalizes grooming a child for sexual activity. 

Underly said she supports common-sense, nonpartisan bills that protect children. 

Underly also laid out several other steps she would like to see taken, including closing the private school “loophole,” so every educator has to have a license. 

Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, agreed. 

Larson said Tuesday’s hearing was about what was publicly available.

“Don’t pretend that the 125,000 students who are in classrooms where there is not a required licensure, and not required reporting that there are not problems,” Larson said.