City Forward Collective

Ending Educational Inequity in Milwaukee

News

Tressa Pankovits: On Wisconsin: Democrats listening to parents advance equal school funding

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City Forward Collective (CFC) helped knit together a grassroots network of more than 1,000 parents and school leaders tired of the inequity… CFC educated parents about the funding gap, its impact on school budgets, the state budget process, and how to advocate for the bill…The campaign worked. In fact, it’s a model for community organizing best practices.

Milwaukee Public Schools’ $252 million referendum: What’s the district’s plan for that money?

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In less than six weeks, voters will decide whether Milwaukee Public Schools gets another $252 million through a property tax increase. In a one-on-one interview, CBS 58 asked MPS Superintendent Keith Posley how the district will use that money, and how those dollars will improve student performance in a district that currently lags behind many of its big-city peers.

Harnessing the Power of Advocacy: A Catalyst for Change in Milwaukee’s Education Funding

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In early July, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed a new state budget into law. This bipartisan legislation enacted a historic funding increase for Wisconsin’s students.  Through this deal, public charter schools will receive a per-pupil funding increase of more than $2,500, and private schools will receive an increase of $2,000-$4,000 per pupil – schools that have served nearly half of all Milwaukee students and historically received 25-35 percent less per-pupil funding, on average, than traditional district schools.

How Parent Power Won Increased Funding for Wisconsin Schools

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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

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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

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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.