MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address, welcoming Wisconsin’s educators, school staff, and administrators back to school for the 2026-27 school year. As a former educator, principal, superintendent, and state superintendent, this is Gov. Evers’ 50th back-to-school season and his final as governor. This week, the governor has been visiting schools across the state to welcome students back to school for his annual statewide back-to-school tour. 

Gov. Evers also kicked off the back-to-school season this week by blasting President Donald J. Trump and Republicans in Congress, including members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation, for skyrocketing price increases as kids, families, educators, and staff go back to school and purchase school supplies. 

According to a new analysis, all told, families will spend 10.7 percent more this school year than last school year, with parents reporting they plan to take on debt or are cutting back on other household expenses to afford back-to-school shopping this year. 

The governor has also specifically been calling out Republican members of Wisconsin’s own congressional delegation who have repeatedly emboldened and enabled the president’s disastrous economic policies that are driving up costs for working families as kids and parents get ready to go back to school, including school supplies and daily lunch supplies to keep kids fed, while household budgets are already stretched thin.

A transcript of the governor’s radio address is available below. 

Hey there, Wisconsin educators and staff. Governor Tony Evers here.

I am jazzed to help welcome all of you back to school for another wonderful school year.

As many of you know, my first back-to-school season started when I was a science teacher in Baraboo.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the start of the school year as a principal, superintendent, state superintendent, and now, as governor, but this time of year never gets old. 

Each school year presents a new opportunity for educators and students alike to grow, learn, and create new connections.

There’s no limit to the lessons that will be learned, friends that will be made, and breakthroughs that will be had.

But one thing never changes, and that’s the commitment and dedication of our educators and school staff.

Every school year, you work to guide, teach, and show students how to become kind, curious, and attentive learners.

From their first day of kindergarten until they walk across the stage their senior year, all of you are the mentors, helping hands, and role models that define each chapter of their education.

Whether serving meals to fill hungry bellies, planning the next lesson, helping our kids pick out a book at the library, taking their temperatures when they don’t feel so good, or helping make sure our schools are clean and run smoothly, all of you are heroes in my book.

All of you help make our schools, our communities, and our state the great place it is to call home.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be traveling the state to welcome students, educators, and staff back to school, but if I don’t get a chance to tell you in person, welcome back to school, Wisconsin.

Whether this is your first year teaching or your last, I hope you cherish the opportunities and revel in the curiosity and eagerness to learn something new.

And above all, thank you for all you do to support our kids, our schools, and our communities.

Let’s make it a great school year, folks. Take care, and thank you.