Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
5/15/2025 - 5:30 PM
Category:
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Type:
Action
Subject:
3. Action on Request to Approve Submission of Contracts for the Achievement Gap Reduction Program
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement
:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
Policy:
Admin Policy 1.01 - Vision, Mission, Core Beliefs, and Goals
Attachments
:
WI Act 53
WI Act 71
AGR Schools FY25
File Attachment:
WI Act 53.pdf
WI Act 71.pdf
AGR Schools FY25.pdf
Background
:
The Achievement Gap Reduction (AGR) program was authorized in 2015 after State legislation passed Wisconsin Acts 53 and 71. Currently, MPS has sixty-three traditional schools and one non-instrumentality charter school that participate in the AGR program.
The purpose of AGR is to improve academic achievement and decrease achievement gaps in the areas of reading and mathematics through the implementation of one or more of the approved school improvement strategies.
Milwaukee Public Schools leverages the following strategies when implementing this program:
a. Maintenance of 18:1 or 30:2 classroom ratios in five-year-old-kindergarten (K5) and provision of professional development in small group instruction; and,
b. Instructional coaching for teachers provided by a licensed teacher in grades K5 through 3rd.
All school districts that participate in the AGR program are to submit a five-year-contract to the Department of Public Instruction by June 15, 2025.
Fiscal Impact Statement
:
The AGR program provides state aid of $2,578.97 per low-income pupil. The proposed FY26 MPS budget includes the AGR funding expected to be generated from the 64 schools.
Implementation and Assessment Plan
:
Upon the Board's approval, the sixty-four contracts will be electronically submitted and an official copy of the Board's action approving the submission of the AGR contracts will be forwarded to the Department of Public Instruction.
Recommendation
A recommendation is for the Milwaukee Board of School Directors to approve the submission of the 2025-2030 Achievement Gap Reduction program applications to the Department of Public Instruction.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
K. Washington - Manager II, Early Childhood Learning
Signed By:
Felicia Saffold, Ed.D. - Senior Director, Curriculum & Instruction
Signed By:
Jennifer Mims Howell - Chief Academic Officer
Signed By:
Dr. Brenda Cassellius - Superintendent of Schools