The recent year-long investigation by the Cap Times revealing that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) failed to publicize more than 200 cases of alleged sexual misconduct or grooming by educators has provoked sharp criticism from Republican leaders.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said DPI’s “lack of transparency is shocking and alarming.”
“It’s clear DPI has chosen to protect their abusers rather than the children. Parents in the public school system will now have zero trust in the administration and the staff,” said Vos.
Senators John Jagler and Romaine Quinn, chair and vice chair of the Senate Education Committee, called for immediate reforms to DPI’s disclosure rules and stronger legislative oversight, stating that “the public has a right to full transparency in matters of educator misconduct.”
“Allowing teachers under investigation to simply resign to stop an in-depth probe of the alleged abuse is a moral disaster. We also wholeheartedly reject the attempt to pin this on the legislature due to an alleged lack of funding. The first dollar spent by DPI should be ensuring that our kids are safe. Full Stop. If parents can’t trust that they are sending their children to a truly safe environment, nothing else matters,” they wrote in a letter to the department
In a post on X, Washington County Executive and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Josh Schoemann described the DPI’s handling of the cases as “unacceptable” and demanded that State Superintendent Jill Underly step down. He wrote that DPI “betrayed the trust of students and parents” and called for Underly’s resignation.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, another candidate for governor also posted on X andframed the matter as a broader executive failure, accusing Gov. Tony Evers and DPI leadership of “shadowing these cases.” Tiffany specifically faulted former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, saying they “must answer for this cover-up.”
The Cap Times investigation found that DPI internally tracked more than 200 investigations of educators for sexual misconduct or grooming that were never publicly disclosed. Some educators resigned or retired while under review, avoiding further scrutiny. The report contends DPI’s existing system lacks meaningful public accountability or consistent disclosure.
Some lawmakers now propose a bill to compel DPI to release final findings of all misconduct investigations involving licensed educators, except where prohibited by law.
DPI has not yet provided a detailed public response to the revelations. In prior statements the agency has cited student-privacy laws and legal constraints as reasons for restricted public disclosure. With political pressure mounting, further statements, policy changes or legislative action could follow.
We will continue to follow this story as it develops.
