City Forward Collective, along with our advocacy partner CFC Action Fund, congratulates State Superintendent Jill Underly on her re-election.
Although tonight’s results weren’t what we had worked toward, we applaud our endorsed candidate, Brittany Kinser, for running an issue-based campaign that ignited a critical conversation about high standards, student achievement, and the urgent need for improved educational outcomes in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. We hope that her voice – and the voices of the hundreds of thousands of voters who supported her will not be ignored by our state’s leaders going forward.
The truth is, the challenges facing Wisconsin’s education system won’t disappear after an election – no matter who wins. Wisconsin’s students and our state’s K12 schools continue to face pressing challenges: holding high expectations for all of our students, closing persistent achievement gaps, and addressing literacy challenges. And in our state’s largest city, confronting both the ongoing academic crisis and the various challenges at MPS must be prioritized and not dismissed.
Our state’s voters have spoken, loudly, clearly, and repeatedly: they reject the false choice between strong public schools and robust school choices. Their priority is on quality schools that prepare students for a productive career and a thriving life – and they believe that requires high standards and meaningful accountability for performance.
City Forward Collective (CFC) remains unapologetically committed to advocating for bold solutions and for empowering families to make informed educational choices for their children. We will continue to lead the charge to transform Milwaukee’s educational ecosystem and ensure that every child, in every school, has access to a high-quality education.
The fight for better outcomes for all of Wisconsin’s kids continues, and we look forward to finding common ground with Superintendent Underly on what we believe is a shared goal of educational opportunity for all of Wisconsin’s children. The stakes are too high, and the work is too important to stop now.
