While the recent resignation of Milwaukee Public School Superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley due to massive administrative failures has drawn the most attention, it is essential to focus on the district’s longstanding inability to provide quality education and a safe learning environment for the families it serves.
As it has been reported, MPS financial mismanagement has led to potential reductions in state aid, further straining the district’s resources. This all comes after a historic $252 million referendum that narrowly passed in April. While DPI knew about MPS fiscal mismanagement well before the election, they made sure taxpayers in the city of Milwaukee was left in the dark- until now. Funny how that worked!
While the fiscal mismanagement of MPS is serious issue, the real story should be focused on MPS victims: the kids trapped inside its system.
Reading and Math Proficiency
MPS struggles with extremely low proficiency rates in reading and math. Only 15.8% of MPS students are proficient in reading, and 11.5% in math. These figures are drastically below state averages of 39% and 41% respectively. This highlights a severe problem in the district’s ability to teach fundamental skills necessary for academic and life success.
Chronic Absenteeism
A persistent issue within MPS is chronic absenteeism. Many students miss a significant portion of the school year, which severely impacts their learning and academic progress. This absenteeism is often linked to socio-economic challenges such as poverty and family instability, which the district struggles to address comprehensively.
Safety
Safety within MPS has long been a major concern. Incidents of violence and safety breaches are frequent, particularly in high schools. The district’s decision to remove School Resource Officers (SROs) aimed to address concerns about the criminalization of student behavior but has led to increased safety issues. Without SROs, maintaining a safe school environment has become more challenging, exacerbating the already difficult learning conditions.
Failed Attempts at Reform
Despite efforts to address these challenges, such as adopting new phonics-based literacy programs and increasing mental health services, no real improvements have been achieved in student outcomes. Efforts to improve literacy and numeracy have seen limited success, and the achievement gap between different demographic groups (black and white students) remains a significant issue. Initiatives such as Dr. Posley’s “Five Priorities for Success,” which aimed to increase academic achievement and accountability, have not yielded the desired outcomes.
The real issue with MPS lies not in its administrative offices but in its failure to educate and protect its students from violence. The district’s chronic absenteeism, low proficiency rates in reading and math, and frequent safety issues highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms. Don’t hold your breath, none of the MPS reforms have produced a better result for parents, students, nor taxpayers.