MADISON — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today sent a letter to The Capital Times demanding a public correction of recent reporting on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s handling of educator misconduct investigations.
The letter outlines how the reporting misrepresents the DPI’s work, omits critical legal and procedural context, and ultimately undermines public trust in the systems designed to protect Wisconsin students. Frequently asked questions on educator misconduct investigations are available in this resource. Additional information on the DPI’s educator misconduct investigations is available on the department’s website.
The full letter is available on the DPI’s website. A statement from Dr. Underly is below:
“Student safety is the foundation of everything that we do in education. Every allegation of educator misconduct is treated with the highest level of seriousness and is thoroughly investigated by the Department of Public Instruction.
“Any suggestion that the DPI withholds information from the public is categorically false. Records are released in accordance with open records laws, and educator license statuses are publicly available to anyone on the DPI’s website.
“Voluntary surrenders of licensure are not loopholes. They are permanent, legally binding agreements that remove harmful individuals from the classroom and prevent them from teaching. In many cases, they also protect victims from additional trauma.
“Journalism is the foundation of our democracy. But inaccurate reporting and sensationalism that ignores facts, distorts the truth, and omits key context has no place.
“This reporting failed to acknowledge critical facts and the legal boundaries in which the DPI operates. I urge The Capital Times to issue a prompt correction to restore public trust and ensure an accurate understanding of our work to protect students.”
