schools

Lincoln Avenue Elementary school as seen on July 2, 2026 following a devastating fire on June 29. There were no injuries reported as a result of the overnight fire.

Education

After MPS school was destroyed by fire, how does city's lack of sprinklers stack up nationally?

Katherine Kokal

Lincoln Avenue Elementary School was total loss after a fire in Milwaukee in June 2026. The school didn't have sprinkler systems. Is that normal?

Brandt Champion in his high school science classroom at Reagan High School in Milwaukee. Champion uses AI tools to generate review materials for his 11th and 12th graders.

Education

From zero tolerance to new tools: How AI is changing Milwaukee education

Katherine Kokal

How are AI tools impacting education in Milwaukee? Views from one science teacher creating a podcast using his notes and a music professor who assigned an AI essay.

Education

As student enrollment falls, will Wisconsin's schools have too many staff?

Katherine Kokal

Will Wisconsin schools have too many staff as student enrollment goes down? Latest report on overstaffing in schools from Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Young students play basketball before school at Browning Elementary School in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

Education

Is there political will to fix Milwaukee's achievement gap between Black and white students?

Katherine Kokal

Milwaukee has the largest Black-white achievement gap in the country. A listener asked: is there a political will to fix it?

A sign outside of West Milwaukee Intermediate School encourages residents to vote yes on the school district referendums.

Education

As Wisconsin voters weigh in on school referendums, disparities grow between districts

Katherine Kokal

A recent report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum finds that school referendums and the ability to pass them is creating disparities in school district funding.

Ingrid Walker-Henry listens to a member of the audience speak at a town hall protesting budget cuts at Milwaukee Public Schools at Washington Park Senior Center on April 21, 2026.

Education

'No cuts to classrooms': MPS parents, teachers call for reversal of 263 job cuts

Katherine Kokal

At a town hall Tuesday, Milwaukee Public Schools parents and teachers spoke out against budget cuts that will cost 260 people their current jobs.

Government & Politics

Whitefish Bay school referendum fails while two others in Milwaukee area pass. What now?

Katherine Kokal

Election results for Wisconsin school district referendums in Whitefish Bay, Lake Country and Glendale-River Hills. What happens next?

An illustration of Chris Duffey, the speaker chosen to address the class at commencement in May 2026. Duffey oversees AI operations at Adobe, prompting criticism from students who say AI is greatly diminishing the entry level job market.

Education

Marquette students are criticizing its choice for a graduation speaker. Why?

Katherine Kokal

Marquette students are criticizing the university for its choice of Chris Duffey as the speaker at Marquette's 2026 graduation. Duffey oversees AI for Adobe.

A small group of students take an exam in their Yoruba class at UW-Madison on March 18, 2026. Colleges in Milwaukee only offer one language originating on the African continent: Arabic. Madison offers around seven, but class options vary by student demand.

Education

1.3B people worldwide speak African languages. Why don't Milwaukee colleges teach more of them?

Katherine Kokal

A WUWM listener asked why colleges in Milwaukee don't offer African languages as foreign languages. Marquette and UWM only offer Arabic.

Government & Politics

Whitefish Bay School District referendum: What to know ahead of April 7 vote

Katherine Kokal

What is the ballot question about schools on Whitefish Bay ballots in the spring 2026 election? Will a new middle school be built?