In a previous blog I touched on MPS and the problems the district must face each and every day. The 207 schools hold 87,360 students and the budget allows for 14,149 staff positions. Today the majority of students are African-American 57.4%, 21.8% are Hispanic, and 12.4% are White. Thirty years ago MPS was over 60% white.
There's no denying that the district has changed drastically over the past several decades with most families, mine included, moving from the city to the surrounding suburbs. Today MPS faces some harsh realities including a graduation rate of 46% and test scores steadily decling the past nine years. There is now talk of cutting transportation for students, explained in last weeks Shepherd Express.
There is an Action Plan outlined on the MPS homepage with eight specific goals that include a focus on student achievement, parental involvement, communities, and the overall district. I wish there was a solution, but if there is to be any significant improvement I believe it would need to start at home with parental involvement.
"When parents follow up their at-home involvement with involvement at school, they reinforce for the child their commitment to and belief in the importance of his/her education."
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Stephanie Felchner
Fall 2008 Human Trafficking Awareness Week
Become Aware and Take Action
Come Join Trafficking Ends with Action for Fall 2008 Human Trafficking Awareness Week. Monday Dec. 1st "Trafficking in South East Asia." Tuesday Dec. 2nd "Human Trafficking: Two Sides of the Same Coin." Thursday Dec. 4th "Gina Allende Speaks on Human Trafficking in Wisconsin." All events will be held in the UWM Fireside Lounge starting at 7pm an
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