Chelsea Cross

Milwaukee ranks in the 1st percentile nationally in reading for years, according to new national data.

Last year, the city’s schools, philanthropies, and civic leaders united behind the Milwaukee Reading Coalition, a citywide effort to train every K3-5 teacher in the Science of Reading, with real accountability for outcomes. CFC is a member. Leaders worked with DPI to try and access Act 20 dollars targeted for the Science of Reading.

This week, Mayor Johnson, Dr. Howard Fuller, and the Presidents of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Herb Kohl Philanthropies called out DPI’s refusal to fund the coalition:

• DPI reversed course: Superintendent Underly’s office declared DPI lacks the authority to support the Milwaukee Reading Coalition, directly contradicting guidance DPI provided throughout the prior year.
• Public dollars matter: Philanthropic partners invested because this model combines public dollars with private accountability. Without a state commitment, private funders cannot hold long-term.
• The bureaucracy is the obstacle: As the local leaders wrote, “the bureaucratic apparatus meant to implement that shared goal is instead standing in its way.”

CFC sent its own letter to Superintendent Underly: “The Milwaukee Reading Coalition spent a year doing everything right — building an unprecedentedly broad, citywide coalition, securing funding, standing up infrastructure — only to be met with shifting guidance and bureaucratic delay.” 

CFC and the Coalition are pressing DPI to re-engage and deploy existing literacy dollars now. Milwaukee’s kids have waited long enough. Read the letter of support below.

• 80% of voters say they’re more likely to support a candidate who would hold all publicly funded schools accountable for student outcomes—the strongest message tested
• Wisconsin voters support school choice by a 2-to-1 margin (57% more likely to support a candidate who backs school choice vs. 22% less likely)
• Public charter school support jumps from 45% to 60% once voters learn that charter schools are publicly funded, free, open to all students, and held accountable to academic standards
• Nearly half of Democratic primary voters remain undecided, and undecided voters are more supportive of school choice than those already committed to a candidate

Read the full press release about the survey below.

City Forward Collective has issued a forceful statement condemning the Milwaukee Board of School Directors’ decision to grant only a one-year renewal to Carmen Schools of Science & Technology–Northwest, despite the school earning a three-year recommendation under MPS’ own review process.

In the statement, Executive Director Colleston Morgan Jr. delivered a blunt assessment of the Board’s actions.

The statement also highlights that more than half of MPS schools perform worse than Carmen Northwest, that two-thirds of Black students attend schools failing to meet even lowered state expectations, and that this politically motivated decision accelerates declining enrollment while blowing an additional $2M+ hole in the district’s already strained budget.

Read the full statement to understand why this vote matters — and why Milwaukee’s students, families, and community deserve better.

A newly released academic audit of Milwaukee Public Schools paints a troubling picture of a district marked by fragmented leadership and inconsistent implementation. The review, which was ordered by Governor Evers and conducted by national experts, found major disparities in instruction, planning, and accountability. Responding to the findings, CFC Executive Director Colleston Morgan Jr. emphasized the need for equitable solutions: “This isn’t about getting rid of what’s working at the district, but it is about ensuring that excellence is equitably accessible to all.” The audit reinforces longstanding concerns from families and education advocates about the district’s ability to deliver high-quality education citywide.

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At a recent public hearing held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, education funding emerged as a central concern among southeastern Wisconsin residents. The Joint Finance Committee’s session saw numerous attendees advocating for increased investments in K-12 education, special education, and related areas. 

“There’s still more work to do, but we’re not today talking about schools on the precipice of closing like we were two years ago,” said Colleston Morgan Jr., Executive Director of City Forward Collective.

Morgan said his group wanted to attend to express thanks and encourage legislators to continue to work in a bipartisan way to get more accomplished, including raising the special education reimbursement rate, lifting the low revenue ceiling and putting additional funding into the voucher program.

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