- April 1 election includes pivotal races for education leadership and voter ID constitutional changes
- Incumbent Jill Underly clashes with charter school advocate Brittany Kinser over school funding
- Voter ID amendment proposal aims to cement existing law into state constitution
- Outcomes may redirect $13B in education funding and impact 3.4M registered voters
- Wisconsin remains only state with elected education chief and no education board
As Wisconsin prepares for its spring election, voters face decisions extending beyond the high-profile Supreme Court race. The battle for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and a proposed voter ID constitutional amendment present stark policy choices that could reshape classroom resources and ballot access for years.
The education showdown features incumbent Jill Underly, a former public school administrator endorsed by teachers' unions, against Republican-backed challenger Brittany Kinser. Underly defends her 2021 overhaul of academic standards, arguing they better reflect modern workforce needs. Kinser counters that revised metrics obscure performance gaps, citing a 4% dip in fourth-grade reading proficiency since changes were implemented.
On election security, the proposed constitutional amendment would elevate Wisconsin's 2011 voter ID law from statute to constitutional mandate. While 89% of 2022 voters showed required ID according to state data, opponents highlight a UW-Madison study showing 11% of non-white voters reported ID-related voting hurdles versus 3% of white voters.
Three unique insights emerge from this political landscape: First, Wisconsin's unusual education governance structure gives its superintendent outsized budget authority compared to counterparts in Illinois and Minnesota. Second, constitutionalizing voter ID laws follows a national trend seen in Florida (2020) and Arkansas (2022). Third, Milwaukee's charter school enrollment surge - up 37% since 2019 - foreshadows potential statewide voucher program expansions under Kinser.
Education analysts note the race could determine whether $350M in federal Title I funds prioritize urban districts or rural schools. Meanwhile, voting rights advocates warn that constitutional amendments require voter approval for future adjustments, potentially complicating efforts to add student IDs or tribal documents to acceptable voter credentials.
As election day approaches, both campaigns mobilize bases through contrasting visions. Underly rallies support at public schools in Green Bay and La Crosse, while Kinser tours voucher institutions in Waukesha and Appleton. The results may signal whether Wisconsin accelerates its school choice programs or reinforces traditional public education models.
