2024-2027

K-12 education strategy

And legislative agenda

As business leaders in the community, it is crucial to support and engage in efforts to enhance education across all levels. By taking the lead in this area, businesses can play a pivotal role in shaping the future workforce of our region.

Collaboration with early childhood programs and other related efforts ensures children receive a strong start, while partnerships with post-secondary institutions help align educational programs and policies with the needs of our modern economy.

Additionally, supporting adult education and upskilling initiatives ensures the current workforce remains competitive and prepared for evolving industry demands.

Download 2024 MMAC Education Strategy
Public Funded Chart

Goal 1

Secure equal funding for all students to help cultivate a skilled, innovative and diverse pool of talent.

Goal 2

Enhancing accountability by collaborating to reform MPS, support charter school authorizations and improve the accuracy of state education assessments.

Goal 3

Engaging Milwaukee’s education sector through collaboration among various stakeholders including teachers, administrators, parents, students and community organizations.

Goal 4

Supporting educational talent is crucial for attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and administrators.

Goal 1

Secure equal funding for all students

Change the current state law so that once a student qualifies for the voucher program, their siblings and other dependents of the family or tax filer(s) should also automatically qualify for the program.

4K (pre-kindergarten) students receive 60 percent of the funding that K-12 students get, but they still need resources similar to what a typical elementary or middle school student would require.

Crucial in Milwaukee Public Schools, where one in five students receive special education services.

Goal 2

Enhancing accountability

  • Work with partners to support a grassroots movement in the city that demands increased reforms from MPS.
  • Change the timing of school board elections from spring to fall.
  • Collaborate with the mayor, governor, legislature, and potentially the county executive and DPI Secretary to implement reforms for the MPS Board.

  • Strengthen city council support for Charter School Authorization.
  • Engage with the new University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor to ensure continued Charter School Authorization by UWM.
  • Advocate for Charter School friendly board members on Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Board.

The WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) renamed the performance levels and lowered cut scores for the state assessments (e.g., Forward Exam, ACT) which creates the following issues:

  • By reducing cut scores, students could reach higher performance levels with lower proficiency (meeting grade-level standards).
    • Scores are no longer aligned with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Proficiency for grades 3-8
    • The new state standard for considering a student proficient on the ACT is a score of 19, lower than the score of 22 which experts say indicates a student is ready for college or a career.
  • Creates inconsistent comparisons with previous years.
  • This will raises achievement scores, which will only benefit wealthier schools and districts.

Goal 3

Engaging Milwaukee’s education sector

Continue and expand MMAC’s Be the Spark | Teamship program that connects local businesses with students to introduce career opportunities and inspire the next generation of workers.

Create scalable classes that integrate area high school curriculum into southeastern Wisconsin automation and manufacturing industry.


  • Sponsor 30 students annually through the nonprofit organization All-In Milwaukee that provides comprehensive support to low-income and underrepresented local students to help them succeed in college and beyond.

  • Identify Milwaukee high school graduates attending HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and maintain strong connections with them throughout their college journey to support their success and future contributions to our community.
  • Build a thriving young professional community in Milwaukee by attracting top college graduates and retaining local talent, driving long-term business growth and innovation.

Goal 4

Supporting educational talent

  • Foster a supportive ecosystem for educators by developing a “MMAC Teacher of the Week” program that emphasizes the value of educators, showcases success stories, and attracts new talent interested in working in a supportive, collaborative environment.
  • Create marketing material and presentations specific to the region that resonates with current and prospective educators so that schools can effectively communicate the benefits of teaching in the region, thereby attracting and retaining high-quality education talent.

Allow individuals without bachelor’s degrees to teach summer school if the individual is enrolled in or has been admitted to an accredited institution of higher education.

By qualifying the summer term for student teaching, schools can attract and retain educational talent by providing a more flexible, expedited and engaging pathway into the teaching profession.

Recognize established teacher preparation programs as a viable alternative licensure pathway for individuals who do not possess a bachelor’s degree.

Help shape the future of

Milwaukee’s education

Join MMAC in transforming education for 110,882 students. Together, we can create equal opportunities, enhance accountability and build a stronger workforce for tomorrow.