Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction
General information
Office Type:	Nonpartisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$132,351
2025 FY Budget:	$8,902,830,600
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 15.37
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly Nonpartisan Assumed office: 2021-07-05
Elections
Next election:	April 2025
Last election:	April 6, 2021
Other Wisconsin Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected position in the Wisconsin state government. The superintendent's responsibilities include providing leadership for Wisconsin's public school districts, providing the public with information about school management, attendance, and performance, licensing the state's teachers, and receiving and disbursing federal aid for schools.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Jill Underly. Underly was elected as Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction on April 6, 2021.

Authority

Wisconsin law provides that heads of independent agencies may create and appoint such councils and committees as the operation of the agency requires.

Wisconsin Statutes, Section 15.04

In addition to any councils specifically created by law, create and appoint such councils or committees as the operation of the department or independent agency requires. Members of councils and committees created under this general authority shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and, if such reimbursement is made, such reimbursement in the case of an officer or employee of this state who represents an agency as a member of such a council or committee shall be paid by the agency which pays the officer's or employee's salary.

The creation of the Department of Public Instruction is designated in Wisconsin Statutes.

Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 15.37, Department of public instruction; creation

There is created a department of public instruction under the direction and supervision of the state superintendent of public instruction.

Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 115

The powers and duties of the Office of Public Instruction are granted in Chapter 115.28.

Ascertain the condition of the public schools, stimulate interest in education and spread as widely as possible a knowledge of the means and methods which may be employed to improve the schools...Supervise and inspect the public schools and day schools for children with disabilities, advise the principals and local authorities thereof and give assistance in organizing such schools.

Qualifications

Article X, Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution assigns the prescription of qualifications for the superintendent to the Wisconsin State Legislature:

Text of Section 1: Superintendent of Public Instruction The supervision of public instruction shall be vested in a state superintendent and such other officers as the legislature shall direct; and their qualifications, powers, duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law. The state superintendent shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and in the same manner as members of the supreme court, and shall hold office for 4 years from the succeeding first Monday in July. The term of office, time and manner of electing or appointing all other officers of supervision of public instruction shall be fixed by law.

Elections

Wisconsin state government organizational chart

The department is headed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, a nonpartisan, constitutional officer elected every four years.

Full history

To view the electoral history dating back to 2001 for the office of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, click [show] to expand the section.

2021 See also: Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2021 General election candidates Deborah Kerr  (Nonpartisan) Jill Underly  (Nonpartisan) ✔ Primary candidates Sheila Briggs  (Nonpartisan)  Joe Fenrick  (Nonpartisan) Troy Gunderson  (Nonpartisan) Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves  (Nonpartisan)  Deborah Kerr  (Nonpartisan) ✔ Steve Krull  (Nonpartisan) Jill Underly  (Nonpartisan) ✔ = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey 2017 See also: Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction election, 2017 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, General Election, 2017 Candidate Vote % Votes Tony Evers Incumbent 70% 494,846 Lowell Holtz 30% 212,536 Total Votes 707,382 Source: WisconsinVote.org, "Current election results," accessed April 4, 2017 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, Primary Election, 2017 Candidate Vote % Votes Tony Evers Incumbent 69.7% 251,477 Lowell Holtz 22.9% 82,519 John Humphries 7.4% 26,563 Rick Melcher 0% 0 Total Votes 360,559 Source: WisconsinVote.org, "Current election results," accessed February 22, 2017 2013 See also: Wisconsin state executive official elections, 2013 Incumbent Tony Evers ran for and won re-election in 2013. He defeated state rep. Don Pridemore with approximately 61 percent of the vote in the general election on April 2, 2013. Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction General Election, 2013 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Tony Evers Incumbent 61.1% 487,030      Nonpartisan Don Pridemore 38.7% 308,050      Scattering Various 0.2% 1,431 Total Votes 796,511 Election Results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (dead link). 2009 On April 7, 2009, Tony Evers won election to the office of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction. He defeated Rose Fernandez in the general election. Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2009 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Tony Evers 57.1% 439,248      Nonpartisan Rose Fernandez 42.7% 328,511      Nonpartisan Scattering 0.1% 905 Total Votes 768,664 Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 2005 On April 5, 2005, Elizabeth Burmaster won re-election to the office of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction. She defeated Gregg Underheim in the general election. Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2005 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Elizabeth Burmaster Incumbent 62.2% 449,739      Nonpartisan Gregg Underheim 37.7% 273,100      - Scattering 0.1% 784 Total Votes 723,623 Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 2001 On April 3, 2001, Elizabeth Burmaster won election to the office of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction. She defeated Linda A. Cross and Janet E. Van Asten in the general election. Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2001 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Elizabeth Burmaster 59.8% 443,359      Nonpartisan Linda A. Cross 40% 296,601      Nonpartisan Janet E. Van Asten 0% 72      - Scattering 0.2% 1,171 Total Votes 741,203 Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

Vacancies

Chapter 17.19(4) of the Wisconsin state code addresses vacancies in the office of the superintendent of public instruction. In the event of a vacancy for any reason, the governor shall appoint a successor to serve until a special election can be held. If no such election is held, the appointee holds office for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Duties

The specific duties of the Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction are outlined in Chapter 115.29 of the Wisconsin state code.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction may:

“

Designate representative: Designate the deputy state superintendent or another employee of the department as the state superintendent's representative on any body on which the state superintendent is required to serve, except the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Educational meetings: Attend such educational meetings and make such investigations as the state superintendent deems important and as will acquaint the state superintendent with the different systems of public schools in the United States. Auxiliary instructional employees: By order, establish classes of auxiliary instructional employees and authorize their employment in the instructional program of the elementary and high schools for specific purposes and their reimbursement from the instructional budget. Auxiliary instructional employees shall not be covered as teachers as defined in s. 40.02 (55) or under s. 118.21, 118.22 or 121.006 (2) but shall be eligible under the public employee trust fund as participating employees as defined in s. 40.02 (46), if it is made applicable, other than through s. 40.21 (3), to the school district employing them. High school graduation equivalency: (a) Grant declarations of equivalency of high school graduation to persons, if in the state superintendent's judgment they have presented satisfactory evidence of having completed a recognized high school course of study or its equivalent. The state superintendent may establish the standards by which high school graduation equivalency is determined. Such standards may consist of evidence of high school courses completed in high schools recognized by the proper authorities as accredited, results of examinations given by or at the request of the state superintendent, successful completion of correspondence study courses given by acceptable correspondence study schools, a general educational development certificate of high school equivalency issued by an agency of the U.S. government, course credits received in schools meeting the approval of the state superintendent or other standards established by the state superintendent. (b) Promulgate rules establishing fees for issuing a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation or a general educational development certificate under par. (a). The rules may provide exemptions from the fees based on financial need. Teacher supply, information and analysis: Assist school boards, cooperative educational service agencies and county children with disabilities education boards to locate qualified professional school personnel, assist qualified professional school personnel to locate vacant positions and provide information and analysis of the professional school personnel supply. English language proficiency assessment system: Assist in the establishment of, and participate in, a consortium of state education agencies organized to obtain public and private funds to be used to purchase an English language proficiency assessment system. Teen pregnancy prevention: Apply for federal funds allocated to evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs that have been proven through rigorous evaluation to delay sexual activity, increase contraceptive use, and reduce teen pregnancy in order to implement such a program.

”

State budget

See also: Wisconsin state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Public Instruction in fiscal year 2025 was $8,902,830,600.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $132,351, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the superintendent received a salary of $127,047, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the superintendent received a salary of $127,047, according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the superintendent received a salary of $127,047, according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the superintendent received a salary of $122,096, according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the superintendent received a salary of $121,307, according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the superintendent received a salary of $121,307, according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the superintendent received a salary of $121,307, according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the superintendent received a salary of $121,307, according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the superintendent received a salary of $120,111, according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

There have been 27 Wisconsin Superintendents of Public Instruction since 1849. From 1849-1905, the office was elected on a partisan ballot.

List of officeholders from 1849-present
#	Name	Tenure
1	Eleazer Root	1849-1852
2	Azel P. Ladd	1852-1854
3	Hiram A. Wright	1854-1855
4	A. Constantine Barry	1855-1858
5	Lyman C. Draper	1858-1860
6	Josiah L. Pickard	1860-1864
7	John G. McMynn	1864-1868
8	Alexander J. Craig	1868-1870
9	Samuel Fallows	1870-1874
10	Edward Searing	1874-1878
11	William Clarke Whitford	1878-1882
12	Robert Graham	1882-1887
13	Jesse B. Thayer	1887-1891
14	Oliver Elwin Wells	1891-1895
15	John Q. Emery	1895-1899
16	Lorenzo D. Harvey	1899-1903
17	Charles P. Cary	1903-1921
18	John Callahan	1921-1949
19	George Earl Watson	1949-1961
20	Angus B. Rothwell	1961-1966
21	William C. Kahl	1966-1973
22	Barbara Thompson	1973-1981
23	Herbert J. Grover	1981-1993
24	John T. Benson	1993-2001
25	Elizabeth Burmaster	2001-2009
26	Tony Evers	2009-2019
27	Carolyn Stanford Taylor	2019-2021
28	Jill Underly	2021-present

State profile

Demographic data for Wisconsin
	Wisconsin	U.S.
Total population:	5,767,891	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	54,158	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	86.5%	73.6%
Black/African American:	6.3%	12.6%
Asian:	2.5%	5.1%
Native American:	0.9%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.1%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	6.3%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	91%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	27.8%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$53,357	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	15%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wisconsin. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Wisconsin

Wisconsin voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 23 are located in Wisconsin, accounting for 11.17 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Wisconsin had 21 Retained Pivot Counties and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 11.60 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Wisconsin coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Wisconsin
• United States congressional delegations from Wisconsin
• Public policy in Wisconsin
• Influencers in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin fact checks
• More...

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction - Google News

Contact info

Address:
125 South Webster Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703-7841
Phone: (608) 266-3390 and (800) 441-4563

Mailing Address
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841

See also

• Superintendent of Schools
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
• Wisconsin school districts
• Wisconsin superintendent seeks to require all students take ACT September 12, 2012
• Public education in Wisconsin

External links

Suggest a link

• Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction