MADISON — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today during a news conference underscored the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s commitment to student safety and announced a series of solutions to strengthen existing systems and protections, including the launch of a new public resource listing revoked and surrendered educator licenses.
“Student safety is not political – it is a moral responsibility that we all share,” Dr. Underly said. “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.
“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.”
The new online database expands on the DPI’s existing public license lookup tool, allowing the public to view licenses that have been revoked or surrendered. While investigative materials are already public record, the DPI is also exploring ways to include clear explanations for license revocations.
“Every child in Wisconsin deserves to walk into a school feeling safe, supported and protected by adults they can trust,” Dr. Underly said. “That is my commitment as state superintendent, as a mother, and as a lifelong educator. And it’s the commitment of the Department of Public Instruction. It guides every decision that I make, and every decision we make as a department.”
During the news conference, Dr. Underly also recognized the dedication of an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin’s educators who serve students every day with professionalism and care.
“Every day, tens of thousands of educators across Wisconsin serve their students with professionalism, compassion, and integrity, often going above and beyond to make a difference in their students’ lives,” Dr. Underly said. “Those educators deserve our gratitude – and systems that protect both their students and their profession.”
In addition to the new database, Dr. Underly outlined additional commonsense, nonpartisan steps to further strengthen student protections:
- Defining and strengthening laws: While the DPI we already pursues license revocations for grooming and boundary violations, without stronger laws and clearer definitions, referrals can be inconsistent. Grooming and predatory behavior are not just school issues — they’re societal issues. As law enforcement leaders have urged, Wisconsin must clearly define grooming as a crime so police can act swiftly and consistently wherever it occurs. Clear definitions and stronger laws will help prevent, identify, and stop harmful behavior.
- Closing the private school loophole: Every school must be accountable for keeping students safe — public, private, and charter alike. Currently, private school educators are not required to hold a DPI license, and unlicensed staff fall outside of the department’s investigative authority. All schools should be required to report any conduct that could be considered immoral. No exceptions.
- Strengthening investigations: The DPI must have the tools it needs to continue to act quickly and effectively to protect students. The department currently lacks subpoena power and must rely on voluntary cooperation during investigations. Even limited subpoena authority would allow the DPI to gather evidence more efficiently and act faster.
- Establishing clear, statewide standards: Every student deserves the same level of safety, no matter where they go to school. For over a year, the DPI has been developing a statewide Educator Code of Conduct, which will soon be available for public comment. This code will bring consistency across Wisconsin, guiding schools on boundaries, professionalism, and misconduct prevention. The DPI also encourages every school board to adopt strong boundary policies and ensure all educators complete training on grooming and boundary violations.
- Modernizing and reinvesting in licensing: A modern licensing system will make educator information clearer, faster to process, and easier to access. To make that happen the DPI needs resources to update its systems. Currently, 10% of every licensing fee is diverted away from the department. Ending this diversion will allow those funds to be reinvested directly into licensing improvements, investigations, and more.
Additional information on the DPI’s efforts to protect Wisconsin learners can be found on its website.
