State Rep. Amanda Nedweski is drafting legislation and calling for an informational hearing to address student safety following a Cap Times report about the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s handling of educator misconduct investigations.
The Cap Times found the department investigated more than 200 Wisconsin teachers, aides, substitutes and administrators from 2018-23 who were accused of sexual misconduct or grooming behaviors toward students — information previously unknown to the public.
The report also revealed that state education officials allow licensed teachers under investigation to forfeit their credentials in exchange for avoiding in-depth probes.
“The recent revelations by the Capital Times paint an alarming picture of what’s happening in our schools,” Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, said in a statement Thursday, Oct.16. “Every parent in Wisconsin deserves to believe that when they send their child to school, that child is safe.”
Following the Cap Times report, published Wednesday Oct. 15, the state Assembly’s Committee on Government Operations, Accountability and Transparency scheduled an informational hearing on the topic of sexual misconduct by school staff for Oct. 23, Nedweski’s office said. An article in the Oct. 22, 2025 issue of The Cap Times covered Nedweski’s introduction of legislation.
State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R- Rochester, issued a statement Thursday saying he was angry after the Cap Times report. The lack of transparency around the Department of Public Instruction’s license misconduct investigations is shocking and alarming, he said.
“Instead of falsely blaming the Legislature for underfunding the department and taking no responsibility in this matter, DPI and Dr. Underly should focus on stopping this revolving door of sexual abusers from entering and remaining in our schools,” he said.
Chris Bucher, spokesperson for the Department of Public Instruction, previously told the Cap Times consistent underfunding by lawmakers has left the agency with limited resources for license misconduct investigations. Underly declined an interview with the Cap Times prior to its published report
