charter schools

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) face fierce competition for students from private voucher schools, suburban schools and of course, charter schools. The question of whether MPS should expand its own portfolio of charter schools can be controversial.

Charter schools of all shapes and sizes populate a sizeable chunk of Milwaukee’s education scene. But this year, only one new charter is joining the field: Pathways High School. Chartered by UW-Milwaukee, Pathways’ mission is to emphasize project-based learning during students’ teenage years. But what's also unique about Pathways is the school's leaders.

It's widely acknowledged that Milwaukee boasts one of the widest achievement gaps in the country among public school students. The next logical question for education-focused groups across the city: how do we move the needle? One group trying to spur change is Milwaukee Succeeds, a local "collective impact" organization that brings schools and community groups together, to collaborate to improve educational outcomes.

One of the city’s most successful charter school networks, Milwaukee College Prep, has just moved closer to MPS. The two systems have worked together for years, but didn’t fully join forces until this past spring, when the MPS School Board formally agreed to charter all four MCP campuses. The news doesn’t change much on its surface – but it does bring new benefits to both organizations.

It’s “back to school” time across Milwaukee. For about 100 students on the near south side, this fall marks a brand-new experience – not only for them, but for their school, Stellar Collegiate. It’s the brainchild of a local educator, and many parents are putting their faith in her program that, this time last year, they knew nothing about.

A number of people in Milwaukee are creating schools. It’s possible, in part, because of the community’s thriving charter and voucher school programs, which provide public funding. Melissa McGonegle is working to open a brand-new school on the near south side: Stellar Collegiate. She’s made it past the first few hurdles – securing a charter, finding a building, hiring staff, even picking school colors. Now, with the fall semester approaching, the challenge is to find students.

The Milwaukee Public Schools system has been shrinking in terms of enrollment. Now, it could lose more buildings, too. When a school closes, it goes on a list of vacant, or “surplus” properties. Friday, the Common Council approved five interested entities who can buy those buildings. Not on the list: MPS. The issue has roots in the long-standing debate over school choice.

The so-called recovery school district within Milwaukee Public Schools - the entity made up of a handful of struggling schools which the state put under…

The effort to create the so-called Milwaukee Excellence Charter School took a hit this past spring when the proposal was tabled after a split vote by the…

Two Republican lawmakers are working on a plan that would turn over control of several struggling Milwaukee Public Schools to an independent body. Details…