So you're trying to make sense of this Wisconsin superintendent race? I get it. When I first moved to Milwaukee back in 2017, I barely knew what the State Superintendent did. Then my kid started public school and suddenly things like curriculum standards and school funding became dinner table conversations. That's when it hit me - this position affects every parent, teacher, and taxpayer in Wisconsin.

Let's cut through the political noise. Whether you're a parent worried about your child's reading program, a teacher frustrated with testing requirements, or just someone who cares about where your tax dollars go, this race matters. I've sat through enough school board meetings to know how confusing education policy can be. That's why I'm breaking down everything about the Wisconsin superintendent race without the jargon.

What Exactly Does Wisconsin's State Superintendent Do?

Think of this person as the CEO of Wisconsin's entire K-12 public education system. The superintendent leads the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), which is no small task. We're talking about overseeing:

• 881 public school districts
• Over 820,000 students
• Nearly 60,000 teachers
• Distribution of $6.8 billion in annual state aid

I remember chatting with a retired principal from Eau Claire who put it bluntly: "The superintendent decides whether my old school gets new textbooks or leaky roofs." That's power. They implement state education laws, create academic standards, and even influence teacher licensing requirements.

Why the 2025 Wisconsin Superintendent Election Feels Different

Honestly? The stakes haven't been this high in years. Wisconsin's national reading scores dropped to 37th place recently. Math isn't much better. And if you've seen the fights at local school board meetings about book bans or transgender student policies, you know those battles are headed straight to the DPI's doorstep.

Money's tight too. Rural districts like those up in Ashland County are struggling to keep teachers. I spoke with a social studies teacher in Bayfield last fall who told me she spends $1,200 of her own money yearly on classroom supplies. "We need someone at DPI who understands what actual classrooms look like," she said, wiping chalk dust off her sweater.

Meet the Candidates in the Wisconsin Superintendent Race

As of March 2024, we've got three declared candidates. More might jump in before the nomination deadline on July 1, 2024. Here's where things stand:

I attended a candidate forum in Madison last month. Hendricks-Williams had this passionate moment when talking about special education: "We can't keep asking districts to do more with less. My nephew has autism – I've seen what underfunding does firsthand." You couldn't hear a pin drop in that room.

Thiesfeldt fired back later: "Throwing money at problems won't fix reading scores. We need competition and transparency." He drew applause from voucher school advocates in the back.

Where They Stand on the Big Three Issues

Having watched Wisconsin superintendent races since 2013, I've learned to focus on how candidates handle these make-or-break areas:

Meanwhile, Thiesfeldt wants to "equalize" funding by letting more money follow students to charter schools. Hendricks-Williams? She's pushing for full state funding of special education – currently, districts cover about 30% themselves.

Curriculum Battles

Remember the reading wars? They're back. Wisconsin's adopting a new "science of reading" approach. Hendricks-Williams wants intensive teacher training ("We can't just mandate and walk away"). Thiesfeldt prefers letting districts choose methods but penalizing those with low scores.

And social studies? That's becoming a minefield. When I asked about teaching slavery, Robbins got thoughtful: "History isn't comfortable. But students deserve facts, not fairy tales."

School Choice Expansion

This might be the biggest divider. Private school vouchers already cost Wisconsin $444 million annually. Thiesfeldt wants eligibility expanded to middle-class families. Hendricks-Williams calls this "defunding public schools." Robbins takes a middle path: "Let's fix public schools first before expanding alternatives."

Your Voting Guide for the Wisconsin Superintendent Election

Wisconsin makes you work for your democracy. Here's everything you need to participate in the Wisconsin superintendent race:

Wisconsin's same-day registration saved me once when I moved during election season. Just bring proof of residence – a utility bill or driver's license works.

What to Bring to the Polls

Wisconsin's voter ID laws trip people up every election. Acceptable IDs include:

• Wisconsin driver's license (even if expired after 11/2018)
• US passport
• Military ID card
• Tribal ID card

My neighbor learned the hard way that college IDs only work if they have issuance dates, signatures, and expiration dates. His UW-Madison ID lacked two of those. Don't be like Dave – check your ID now!

Tracking Election Results and Staying Informed

Wisconsin superintendent races usually aren't called on election night. In 2021, it took three days to declare Underly the winner. Here's how to follow along:

• Official Results: Wisconsin Elections Commission updates continuously
• County Breakdowns: WEC's county-by-county map shows real-time returns
• Best Local Coverage: Wisconsin Public Radio's education beat reporters

Bookmark these sites now. During the 2021 Wisconsin superintendent race, I stayed up till 2am refreshing results. Not my brightest idea before a parent-teacher conference.

What Happens After the Election?

New superintendents take office July 1st. First months usually involve:

1. Appointing deputy superintendents (requires state senate approval)
2. Developing biennial budget requests
3. Implementing campaign priorities

Dr. Underly's transition was messy – she fired three division heads immediately. Staff morale plummeted. Whoever wins this Wisconsin superintendent race should avoid that approach.

Wisconsin Superintendent Race FAQs

Historical Context: Past Wisconsin Superintendent Elections

You can't understand this Wisconsin superintendent race without looking back:

Notice how margins shrank? That's no accident. Outside spending has ballooned from $800,000 in 2013 to $2.1 million in 2021. This Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction race will likely set new records.

What History Teaches Us

Three patterns emerge:

1. Incumbency advantage: No sitting superintendent has lost since 1961
2. Spring turnout matters: 2021's 27% turnout favored activist voters
3. Milwaukee decides: 18% of ballots typically come from Milwaukee County

That last one bugs me. Why should one county dominate statewide education policy? But demographics are demographics.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Decision

After covering five Wisconsin superintendent races, here's my advice:

First, ignore the attack ads. They'll flood your mailbox come February. Second, attend a candidate event. Seeing how they handle tough questions from teachers tells you more than any brochure.

Finally, think beyond culture war issues. Curriculum debates get headlines, but the superintendent's real power lies in budget allocations and federal grant management. That boring stuff determines whether your kid's school hires reading specialists or cuts art programs.

The Wisconsin superintendent position impacts our state for generations. However you vote on April 1, 2025, just vote informed.