This opinion piece by Dr. Jill Underly, state superintendent of public instruction, was published by The Capital Times as Wisconsin celebrated the first week back to school.
This week, schools across Wisconsin will open their doors to welcome back students.
I have had the privilege of experiencing the start of a new school year from different perspectives — as a student, of course, but also as a teacher, a parent, a principal, a district administrator and now as state superintendent. No matter what my role is, I have never lost that feeling of excitement and that sense of renewal that comes with the start of a new school year. And this year is no different. There is something special about a fresh beginning: new teachers, new classmates, new challenges and new possibilities.
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This year, I am especially excited about what those possibilities can mean for Wisconsin students.
The first bell may mark the beginning of the new school year, but the work that lays the foundation for student success starts long before. This is true for teachers, who have been busy preparing classrooms, creating lesson plans and engaging in professional learning. And this is also true for us at the Department of Public Instruction, where we have been laying the groundwork that will strengthen teaching and learning across our state.
This year, the department is leading the development of statewide literacy and mathematics plans that will represent a shared vision for teaching and learning in these critical areas. Strong literacy and math skills have the power to open doors to educational success, lifelong learning and economic opportunity. They touch every part of our lives. Literacy helps us understand ourselves and others, become critical consumers of information and engage meaningfully as citizens. Math influences everyday decisions from budgeting and measuring to planning our time and solving problems.
Strong academic foundations are critical for preparing students for the future.
At the same time, the world learners will enter after high school is changing rapidly. Graduates need skills that remain relevant over time as technology and artificial intelligence continue to change the job market. That is why, earlier this year, we introduced the Wisconsin Portrait of a Graduate — a shared vision, shaped by voices across the state, that defines the durable skills every student needs to thrive after high school.
These efforts are deeply connected. We cannot prepare students for the future by choosing between academic excellence and durable skills. We need both.
As we introduce these new initiatives, it is important to remember we are not working toward milestones just for the sake of reaching them. We are not doing this work simply to check off boxes. These initiatives have the potential to make a real impact on every student and ensure they have the best opportunity to grow, learn and succeed — now and into the future. They are asking an important question: What do Wisconsin students need from us today, so they are prepared for whatever comes tomorrow?
So, as students step into the classroom this week — whether as a kindergartner celebrating their first day of school or a senior celebrating their last first day of school — Wisconsin public schools are ready to welcome them and provide the strong foundations they need for success.
Welcome back to school, Wisconsin!
