Published March 28, 2025
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 1 on Friday, a Republican-backed measure aimed at undoing State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly’s recent changes to Wisconsin’s student testing standards. The decision has reignited a fierce debate over education policy in the state, just days before Underly faces voters in her bid for re-election on April 1.
Underly, who oversees the Department of Public Instruction, adjusted the Forward Exam scoring system last year, lowering the threshold for students to be deemed proficient in reading and math. Critics argue the move masks a growing literacy crisis, while supporters say it aligns assessments with Wisconsin’s academic standards. AB 1 sought to revert to previous benchmarks and tie the state’s testing to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
In his veto message, Evers defended the superintendent’s authority, stating, “I object to the Legislature’s attempts to undermine the constitutional authority and independence of the Department of Public Instruction’s elected superintendent.” He added, “The state superintendent answers to the people of Wisconsin, not any other politician or group of politicians.”
Underly praised the veto, saying, “I commend the governor for vetoing Assembly Bill 1. The proposal was deeply flawed as it relied on the NAEP — a federal assessment that is currently being cut by the federal government and is not aligned to Wisconsin’s rigorous standards — to influence local school policies.” She emphasized the role of educators in the changes, noting, “Wisconsin teachers had direct input in the decision to align test cut scores with Wisconsin’s academic standards.”
Republican lawmakers, however, slammed the veto as a missed opportunity to address declining student performance. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said, “Governor Evers has once again shown that he cares more about appeasing the educational establishment than ensuring educational success for the students of Wisconsin.” He pointed to NAEP data, asserting, “The 2024 National Association of Education Progress exam scores showed only 31% of 4th graders in our state are reading at grade level.”
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, echoed Vos, saying, “Governor Evers failed Wisconsin students today. In January, the governor slammed State Superintendent Underly for lowering standards, but when he had a chance to fix it he chose politics over students.” Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, added, “By rejecting AB 1, Evers has turned his back on his own standards and left parents and educators in the dark about how their students are really performing.”
The veto drew sharp reactions from education advocates and candidates as well. Brittany Kinser, Underly’s challenger in the upcoming election, said, “Governor Evers’ decision to veto AB 1 is a slap in the face to every parent, teacher, and student who have been demanding transparency and accountability from our education system.” The City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee-based education advocacy group, called it “a devastating blow to families across the state who deserve to know the truth about how their schools are performing.”
The legislation, introduced earlier this year by Rep. Robert Wittke, R-Racine, and Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, aimed to roll back the testing standards to those used in the 2019-20 school year, before Underly’s adjustments in 2024 lowered the proficiency thresholds for the Forward Exam. AB 1 also sought to align Wisconsin’s assessments with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a widely recognized national benchmark, to ensure consistency and comparability in measuring student performance.
Supporters argued this would offer a more accurate reflection of student achievement, reversing what they called an artificial boost in proficiency rates. The bill passed the Assembly and Senate with strong Republican support but faced opposition from Democrats and some education groups.
With the veto, the state’s current testing framework remains in place, setting the stage for a heated election showdown between Underly and Kinser, to be decided on Tuesday. The outcome could shape Wisconsin’s education testing policies for years to come.
