State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today released the following statement in response to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s announcement of a significant staff reduction, which will directly impact Wisconsin children, families, and communities.
“While efficiency is important, it must never come at the expense of the students and families who rely on these essential programs. Federal resources allocated for education must stay focused on learning, not diverted elsewhere. Every dollar saved through these actions must be reinvested directly into our children and schools, which are already stretched thin. We cannot afford to make cuts that will undermine the very students and families who rely on these programs to thrive.
“If this decision is truly in the best interest of Wisconsin’s schools and children, we expect to see tangible results and new resources. Wisconsin is watching closely.”
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has launched a new interactive map showing how federal funding impacts each school district across the state, and a one-page resource showing the impact of federal funding on Wisconsin. Just days ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the termination of the Local Food for Schools Program, which supports Wisconsin farmers and students by increasing access to local and regional foods for school meals. This program impacts nearly 950,000 public and private school students in Wisconsin during the 2023-24 school year.
The DPI will be hosting informational sessions to discuss the implications of these changes – more details are forthcoming.
NOTE: An official photo of Dr. Underly can be found on the DPI’s website.
