On Monday, 86 organizations, including Milwaukee Public Schools, charter and private schools, vowed that within three years, every child would be reading at grade level by the end of third grade. 

The post Milwaukee Reading Coalition hopes to get third graders reading at grade level in 3 years appeared first on WPR.

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Federal disaster assistance is available to individuals in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties who were affected by historic rainfall and flooding last month. 

President Donald Trump announced on social media Thursday that Wisconsin will receive $29.8 million in federal disaster relief aid. 

The assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and families recover from the effects of the storms that occurred Aug. 9-12. 

A spokesperson for Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said that how and when the money will be distributed to individuals will be determined by the Trump administration.

People who sustained losses in the designated areas should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App.

State and federal officials believe the floods caused more than $33 million in damages to private property in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties. 

The request by Gov. Tony Evers for a presidential disaster declaration also included a request to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program for Door, Grant and Ozaukee counties. 

On Friday, FEMA officials announced that additional designations may be made at a later date depending on what damage assessments show.

The Evers administration estimates 1,500 residential structures were destroyed and flooding caused more than $43 million in public sector damage throughout six Wisconsin counties.

“Over the past month, my administration and I have been working hard to ensure the folks and families whose homes, businesses, schools, and community centers were impacted have the support they need to recover,” Evers said in a statement released Thursday evening.

A recent Associated Press data analysis found that disaster survivors are having to wait longer to get aid from the federal government than they did in the past.

This story was originally published by WPR.

FEMA flood relief funds available to residents in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties 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.

The assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and families recover from the effects of the storms that occurred Aug. 9-12. 

The post FEMA flood relief funds available to residents in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties appeared first on WPR.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people Thursday after a single-engine aircraft crashed in Lake Michigan 20 miles off the coast of Oak Creek.

The post 3 people rescued after plane went down in Lake Michigan appeared first on WPR.

New freshman enrollment across the Universities of Wisconsin campuses is up an average of 3 percent this fall, but “significant declines” in international students has kept overall enrollment flat.  

The post Loss of international students affects enrollment growth at UW campuses appeared first on WPR.

A Milwaukee County Board committee is urging the organization in charge of high school sports in Wisconsin to address hate speech and harassment that happens during games.

The post Milwaukee County wants WIAA to address hate speech in high school sports appeared first on WPR.

Over the next year, Milwaukee Public Schools will decide how to manage its 149 school buildings — that includes possible grade reconfiguration.

The post Head of Milwaukee Public Schools wants grade reconfiguration appeared first on WPR.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report, 94 percent of VA facilities this year reported severe occupational staffing shortages for medical officer positions.

The post Report: Wisconsin VA hospitals face severe staffing shortages appeared first on WPR.

Funding for arts groups in Milwaukee County is in limbo after a county board committee rejected allocating more than $300,000 already budgeted for 2025. 

The post Funding for Milwaukee County arts groups in limbo as committee reconsiders awards appeared first on WPR.

An annual $6 million allocation for the Wisconsin Driver Education Grant has been made permanent. High school students who are ready for driver's education and qualify for free or reduced lunch can apply online through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  

The post $6M now available annually to fund driver’s education for low-income Wisconsin students appeared first on WPR.

The Washington County Board voted to move forward with the sale, despite objections from several community members who have raised questions about the sale price and why the county would sell to buyers who won’t pay taxes. 

The post Washington County is selling former UW campus to Christian school appeared first on WPR.

UW police are actively investigating the source of the false report. 

The post UW-Madison part of a wave of active shooter hoaxes across US appeared first on WPR.

The school district has long struggled with the same issues plaguing urban school districts across the nation, including declining enrollment, rising absenteeism and funding deficits. Recently, MPS was beset by a financial scandal followed by a lead crisis.

The post New head of Milwaukee Public Schools wants to rebuild community trust. It’s an uphill battle. appeared first on WPR.

The fall semester for the Universities of Wisconsin campuses starts next week. But at least 50 students at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee still don’t know if they’ll be able to attend class. 

The post Wisconsin students in limbo waiting for fellowship money from Department of Education appeared first on WPR.

School supply giveaways and free haircuts provided by community organizations like Safe & Sound in Milwaukee are helping parents ease the rising costs of back-to-school shopping.

The post Free haircuts, school supply giveaways help ease rising costs of back-to-school appeared first on WPR.

More than 20 Milwaukee Public Schools were damaged in recent flooding, a financial blow to a school district already dealing with the fallout of a lead paint crisis and aging buildings.

The post More than 20 Milwaukee Public Schools were damaged by flooding appeared first on WPR.

Thousands of people have filed claims after flood waters inundated homes or swamped vehicles. But flood damage to buildings is not covered by home or renters insurance unless they have purchased flood policies, said Sarah Smith, spokesperson with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. 

The post Flood damage not covered by home insurance, residents waiting on FEMA declaration appeared first on WPR.

This week, educators from across Wisconsin are working to update the state's school report card system for the first time since it was released in 2012. 

The post Wisconsin’s school report cards getting an update, but major changes will require new state law appeared first on WPR.

An invasive plant has been spotted in southcentral Wisconsin, and scientists are asking the public for help to prevent it from spreading across the region.

The post UW Extension is asking for help to identify spread of invasive plant appeared first on WPR.

Just weeks after retiring from the Green Bay Packers, Mark Murphy is returning to sports in northeast Wisconsin.

The post Former Packers CEO Mark Murphy joins UW-Green Bay Athletics office appeared first on WPR.