City Forward Collective

Ending Educational Inequity in Milwaukee

Dean Purvis

How Parent Power Won Increased Funding for Wisconsin Schools

by Leave a Comment

Wisconsin lawmakers have given schools in Milwaukee, and all across Wisconsin, a historic boost. As part of a bipartisan deal, state legislative leaders and Gov. Tony Evers announced a major investment in schools across the state. In addition to an overall increase for all public schools, it includes a gap-closing increase in per-pupil funding for charter and private schools that participate in the state’s parental choice programs.

Evers’ budget tour hits Milwaukee: With a $4 billion state surplus, everyone wants a slice

by Leave a Comment

Other education advocates called for the state to increase funding for charter and private choice schools. Those schools get a smaller share of per pupil funding than public schools, but public education advocates note choice schools are not subject to each of the same reporting requirements.

“Nearly half of our kids are outside Milwaukee Public Schools,” Colleston Morgan, director of the City Forward Collective, said. “Those students are still facing significant funding gaps.”

Both public education and private K-12 funding got significant funding jumps as part of a broad compromise that increased state aid to local governments.

OPINION: Wisconsin school choice isn’t controversial among students and families it helps

by Leave a Comment

When you spend every day working to help Milwaukee students achieve success, you are bound to learn a lesson or two yourself along the way. When it comes to parent choice, we have learned the following:

First, any discussion of parent choice is bound to stir up energy, opinions and rhetoric, along with some misinformation. Second, families are not making a political statement when they choose a school. They simply want the freedom to find the best place for their student to receive the support they need to reach their full potential.