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Today β€” 27 February 2025Main stream

Public charter school in Waukesha County wants to offer a safe place for LGBTQ+ students

27 February 2025 at 11:00

At a business park in Waukesha County, one mom is working to do what she says the federal government is no longer interested in: creating a school that will be a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ students. 

The post Public charter school in Waukesha County wants to offer a safe place for LGBTQ+ students appeared first on WPR.

GOP bill would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Wisconsin

27 February 2025 at 11:00

Lawmakers say the β€œHelp Not Harm Act" will protect minors from β€œmaking life-altering, irreversible decisions that cause mental and bodily harm.”

The post GOP bill would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Wisconsin appeared first on WPR.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Trump administration cuts funding for UW-Madison teacher training program at MPS

21 February 2025 at 16:58

The U.S. Department of Education terminated more than $600 million in teacher training grants this week, including funds for a program designed to bring more special education teachers into Milwaukee Public Schools. 

The post Trump administration cuts funding for UW-Madison teacher training program at MPS appeared first on WPR.

WIAA changes policy, now bans transgender students from playing in girls sports

19 February 2025 at 19:59

The state organization that oversees most Wisconsin high school athletic programs updated a policy Wednesday to say only athletes β€œdesignated as females at birth” would be allowed to compete in girls sports.

The post WIAA changes policy, now bans transgender students from playing in girls sports appeared first on WPR.

Underly and Kinser advance in state superintendent race

19 February 2025 at 04:09

Incumbent State Superintendent Jill Underly and private school advocate Brittany Kinser were the top two vote getters in a field of three in Tuesday's primary race to head the Department of Public Instruction.

The post Underly and Kinser advance in state superintendent race appeared first on WPR.

Judge rules police must be in Milwaukee schools within 10 days

17 February 2025 at 23:26

Milwaukee Public Schools and the city of Milwaukee will split the costs of putting police officers in schools, ending the ongoing fight over moving the issue forward, a judge ruled […]

The post Judge rules police must be in Milwaukee schools within 10 days appeared first on WPR.

New Milwaukee schools superintendent left previous post amid criticism of failing system

13 February 2025 at 21:22

The Milwaukee Public School Board of Directors has chosen Brenda Cassellius as the new superintendent at a time when the district is facing challenges on several fronts: finances, facilities and […]

The post New Milwaukee schools superintendent left previous post amid criticism of failing system appeared first on WPR.

Here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s new school testing standards

13 February 2025 at 11:00

Wisconsin’s measuring stick for how students are performing in school changed this year when the state rolled out new testing standards. WPR set out to answer questions about standardized testing.

The post Here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s new school testing standards appeared first on WPR.

New proposal could reverse changes to Wisconsin school testing benchmarks

6 February 2025 at 21:21

Under the Republican proposal, DPI would have to use the same benchmark scores, score ranges and corresponding qualitative descriptions that were used on school report cards published in the 2019-20 school year.

The post New proposal could reverse changes to Wisconsin school testing benchmarks appeared first on WPR.

Madison school policy cited in Trump order banning teaching critical race theory, gender identity

29 January 2025 at 20:13

The order specifically mentions a Madison Metropolitan School District policy that it says calls on schools to β€œdisrupt the gender binary” by teaching students to embrace different gender identities.

The post Madison school policy cited in Trump order banning teaching critical race theory, gender identity appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin again has widest gap in US for math, reading scores between white and Black students

29 January 2025 at 11:00

Wisconsin continues to see the nation's widest disparity in math and reading scores between Black and white students, according to data released this week. 

The post Wisconsin again has widest gap in US for math, reading scores between white and Black students appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin schools try to reassure immigrant families after flood of executive orders

27 January 2025 at 20:26

As President Donald Trump released a number of executive orders limiting immigration and ramping up deportation, many Wisconsin school districts are trying to reassure immigrant parents that schools are a safe place for their children. 

The post Wisconsin schools try to reassure immigrant families after flood of executive orders appeared first on WPR.

Judge rules Milwaukee Public Schools must have police in schools by Feb. 17

23 January 2025 at 20:58

Milwaukee Public Schools must return police officers to the district no later than Feb. 17, or appear in court to explain why it is not following state law. 

The post Judge rules Milwaukee Public Schools must have police in schools by Feb. 17 appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin GOP proposal would undo new DPI state testing benchmarks

21 January 2025 at 19:24

Wisconsin legislative Republicans are circulating a bill that would undo changes the Department of Public Instruction made last year to the way student achievement is measured on state tests.  DPI […]

The post Wisconsin GOP proposal would undo new DPI state testing benchmarks appeared first on WPR.

Money allocated for Wisconsin reading law could go to state surplus if not used by June 30

15 January 2025 at 19:45

State Superintendent Jill Underly says Republicans are β€œplaying politics” by withholding funding that is critical for fully implementing Act 20. 

The post Money allocated for Wisconsin reading law could go to state surplus if not used by June 30 appeared first on WPR.

Milwaukee Public Schools still trying to recoup money from GOP official’s defunct nonprofit

10 January 2025 at 17:00
Ronna McDaniel, chairperson of the Republican National Committee, and Gerard Randall
Reading Time: 2 minutes

More than a year after ending its decade-long affiliation with the Milwaukee Education Partnership, Milwaukee Public Schools is still trying to recoup money from the organization for work it never performed. 

MPS sent an invoice to Milwaukee Education Partnership on Dec. 19, 2023, for $64,170. The district sent four follow-up invoices to the organization before turning the matter over to Kohn Law Firm in May 2024, according to records obtained by WPR. 

The school district is still awaiting payment from the now-defunct organization, which was led by Gerard Randall, a top Wisconsin GOP official who helped secure the Republican National Convention for Milwaukee.

Randall did not respond to requests for comment from WPR. 

School board member Missy Zombor said the money Randall owes to MPS could be used to serve students. 

β€œThat’s potentially an educator in front of a student,” Zombor said. β€œI mean, $64,000 is not a small amount of money, so not being able to recoup those funds impacts students directly.” 

MPS ended its relationship with Randall after reporting by WPR in collaboration with Wisconsin Watch brought the questionable history of his nonprofit to light.

During its relationship with MPS, Milwaukee Education Partnership received nearly $1.3 million in no-bid district contracts, promising to improve student achievement in the district. 

In 2022, the partnership received $64,170. That money was for the group’s Milwaukee Connects program, which aims to β€œenhance the pipeline of graduates from Milwaukee to Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” according to the contract.

The contract required the partnership to provide 10 graduating MPS students with semester-long paid internships to include professional mentoring, housing and transportation between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023.

In an email exchange last year with WPR,  Randall said β€œa cohort is being developed for the semester beginning January 2024.”

He would not answer further questions.

The students were never provided mentoring or internships, but Randall did receive the payment, according to documents obtained by WPR. 

Milwaukee Education Partnership was also listing several high-profile officials in tax filings as board officers without their knowledge. 

They included Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, former Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith Posley, former Milwaukee Area Technical College President Vicki Martin and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone.

Despite the controversy, Randall  continues to serve on a variety of high-profile boards, including the Wisconsin GOPUW-Madison’s Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership and Visit Milwaukee

After being elected to the MPS board in 2023, Zombor began examining various MPS no-bid contracts. When she visited the Milwaukee Education Partnership website, she found it featured years-old financial reports and listed names of people no longer associated with the group.

Zombor began asking questions, which ultimately led to Posley suspending the district’s relationship with Milwaukee Education Partnership in November 2023.

Zombor says she would like MPS to explore its options for awarding contracts.

β€œIt feels like this contract was potentially for a fictitious nonprofit,” Zombor said.  β€œWe have to trust that when vendors or partners come to MPS that they’re being honest about the services they provide. But I think we have to continue to enhance the accountability of the procurement process so that we can safeguard public money.”

This story was originally published by WPR.

Milwaukee Public Schools still trying to recoup money from GOP official’s defunct nonprofit is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

New survey shows Wisconsin parents struggle to understand public school systems

8 January 2025 at 11:17

Wisconsin parents are overestimating how well their children are doing in school while underestimating how much money school districts have to spend on education, according to a new national survey. 

The post New survey shows Wisconsin parents struggle to understand public school systems appeared first on WPR.

Milwaukee Area Technical College’s former DEI officer files federal discrimination lawsuit

6 January 2025 at 20:28

Milwaukee Area Technical College's former chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer filed a federal lawsuit against the college alleginging she was fired after speaking out against race and disability discrimination at the school.

The post Milwaukee Area Technical College’s former DEI officer files federal discrimination lawsuit appeared first on WPR.

Ascension’s spring 2024 ransomware attack affects millions of patients

6 January 2025 at 11:00

The cyber attack that debilitated one of Wisconsin’s largest hospital systems this spring, has now been determined to have affected millions of patients’ personal information. 

The post Ascension’s spring 2024 ransomware attack affects millions of patients appeared first on WPR.

New Orleans deadly truck attack brings rush of memories to Waukesha

2 January 2025 at 20:18

β€œThis hit home and is very hard as we have and share a special connection with many people, dance groups and the entire New Orleans community,” said Jean Knutson, co-leader of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. 

The post New Orleans deadly truck attack brings rush of memories to Waukesha appeared first on WPR.

β€˜Leave my mark on the city’: The art and people of the Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival

26 December 2024 at 20:00

Milwaukee lives up to its nickname as the City of Festivals as it draws millions of visitors every year. But the annual Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival draws more than 200 […]

The post β€˜Leave my mark on the city’: The art and people of the Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival appeared first on WPR.

Parents disappointed in implementation of new Wisconsin reading law

26 December 2024 at 11:00

Parents from Decoding Dyslexia, the Wisconsin Reading Coalition, WI Reads and the International Dyslexia Association's Wisconsin branch sent a letter to DPI last week, saying they’re concerned with implementation of Act 20.

The post Parents disappointed in implementation of new Wisconsin reading law appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin students call for change days after deadly Madison school shooting

20 December 2024 at 21:23

More than 100 Madison high schoolers marched to the state Capitol Friday where they denounced lawmakers' inaction on firearm legislation and funding for mental health support in schools.

The post Wisconsin students call for change days after deadly Madison school shooting appeared first on WPR.

UW-Madison engineering building funds denied by State Building Commission

18 December 2024 at 22:41

The State Building Commission denied a motion to allow $70 million in underspent funds to be used for a series of planned UW projects including the new engineering building at UW-Madison.

The post UW-Madison engineering building funds denied by State Building Commission appeared first on WPR.

Madison running community urges UW to alter plans on new $285M football practice facility

26 November 2024 at 20:31

Track athletes and runners in the Madison community say the new space is too small, comparing it to a running track found at a health club instead of one at a Big 10 University. 

The post Madison running community urges UW to alter plans on new $285M football practice facility appeared first on WPR.

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