Milwaukee Public Schools needs your immediate input

This April, a critical referendum passed by a slim margin, allocating $252 million to Milwaukee Public Schools over four years. Now is a pivotal moment, and district leaders urgently need your input to share the future and ensure the district “best meets the needs of students, staff, families and community to prepare every child for success in college, career, and citizenship.”

Ways to Engage and Provide Feedback to MPS

According to an announcement from Milwaukee Public Schools, the first way to engage is with the Community and Family Survey, an online questionnaire available to everyone, not just MPS families. The survey is expected to take 10 – 15 minutes to complete and is available in nine languages. It covers a broad range of topics, including communications, facility upgrades, and other strategic plan focus areas. The survey is available until May 27.

Additionally, four meetings will be held as part of Year Two of the Strategic Plan and Long-Range Facilities Master Plan.

• Wednesday, May 15: 5:30–7:00 p.m. at James Madison High School, 8135 W. Florist Ave.
• Monday, May 20: 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Hamilton High School, 6215 W. Warnimont Ave.
• Tuesday, May 21: 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Bay View High School, 2751 S. Lenox St.
• Wednesday, May 22: 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Rufus King High School, 1801 W. Olive St.

What Are MPS’ Strategic Initiatives?

Milwaukee Public Schools has an ambitious 5-year strategic plan for its nearly 70,000 students and 150 schools. Strategic priority areas include focuses on:

• Student achievement
• Staff-morale and professional learning
• Rightsizing the district
• Graduation and postsecondary readiness
• Special projects like budget planning, communications, school lunches, and the calendar.

This year is the second year of the 2023 – 2028 plan, which follows the Baldrige Excellence Framework to answer the following questions: who we are, what we do, how we operate, and how we measure results. The plan identifies gaps and focuses on key performance requirements and results.

Previous Community Engagement Efforts

In early 2023, MPS families and community members were invited to complete surveys that asked questions about support services available to students, school-related activities, school budgets, and more. Between community and family survey results, staff results, and student results, more than 33,800 responses were received.