State superintendent testifies in committee hearing regarding sexual misconduct, grooming in Wisconsin schools
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) – State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly and other leaders in the Department of Public Instruction testified in front of the Senate Committee on Education at a hearing regarding sexual misconduct and grooming in Wisconsin schools on Tuesday, Nov. 4
Tuesday’s hearing stemmed from reporting last month by The Capital Times, a Madison news outlet. The report found DPI staff had investigated more than 200 instances of educators accused of sexual misconduct or grooming between 2018 and 2023.
As a result of that report, Republican lawmakers slammed the agency over its online license database not sharing why an educator's license was either revoked or surrendered.
“At the DPI, every allegation of misconduct is taken seriously, and every investigation is conducted thoroughly with available tools. When evidence shows misconduct, we act to remove that individual from the classroom,” Underly said. "There is no place in Wisconsin classrooms for anyone who harms a child or puts a child’s safety at risk. My promise to every parent, guardian, and family is that we will always act swiftly and decisively to protect kids."
“To be honest, the response from DPI as of this story breaking has been disturbing to me, from a lack of seriousness that was taken from the department on not commenting on the allegations and then blaming the Legislature for the allegations,” said State Senator Jon Jagler (R-Watertown).
Alongside Underly, Deputy State Superintendent Tom McCarthy and the DPI's licensing director, Jennifer Kammerud, testified before the Senate committee. They told committee members the public can access records on sexual misconduct investigations through open records requests. They added it's been hard for the agency to update its online database because the state has cut its budget.
Underly announced on Tuesday that DPI launched an initiative to expand the existing public license lookup for licenses that have been revoked or surrendered.
Washington County executive and candidate for governor Josh Schoemann called on Underly to resign due to the reports of sexual misconduct and grooming, saying DPI shielded the cases from public scrutiny. Congressman Tom Tiffany and candidate for governor continues to criticize the department on social media.
“What a terrible situation for all the families who are now looking back and seeing this lack of accountability,” Schoemann said.
Underly described a "private school loophole," explaining how private school educators are not required to hold a DPI license. Unlicensed staff can apply to jobs outside of the DPI’s investigative authority. Lawmakers stated that this matter could be addressed with future legislative action.
“It is just beyond me that we still are not doing anything for private schools, even throughout this, after an investigation is concluded, and even some of these most egregious behaviors, the teacher can walk out the door on a Friday, have no license to teach in the state of Wisconsin in a public school, but on a Monday they can walk to another school in the state of Wisconsin. If it’s a private school, the parents will never know,” said State Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee).
Underly received bipartisan criticism for her absence from an Assembly committee hearing on this same subject matter last month.
Additional information on DPI’s efforts in misconduct investigations can be found here.