Milwaukee Public Schools

MPS Budget Closes $46 Million Gap, Adds 159 Teaching Jobs

Board approves $1.6 billion plan with raises, smaller classes and more student services.

MPS Board of School Directors Approves $1.6B Budget for 2026-27 School Year

Balanced budget invests in more classroom teachers, raises educator salaries, and closes a $46 million deficit

MPS Bilingual Fair Will Be Held at Longfellow School on May 30

Families Can Explore Bilingual Education, Resources for Children

Milwaukee Ranked Among Nation’s Top Park Systems in 2026 ParkScore® Index

Recognition shared by Milwaukee Recreation, Milwaukee County Parks, and the City of Milwaukee

Milwaukee Recreation Prepares for a Summer of Safe, Fun, and Affordable Programming

Activities are available for all ages and ability levels

Proposed MPS Budget Resolves Fiscal Shortfall but Leaves Another Looming Gap

Budget is balanced for 2027, but large deficit forecast for future years

Milwaukee Recreation’s Wick and Modrzejewski Playfield Renovations Receive 2026 Mayor’s Design Award

Recognition announced at event on Wednesday, May 20f

SDC Board Members Clash Over Rules After Failed Emergency Meeting

'We don’t get a notice, nor do items we request get placed on the agenda,' says board member.

New Cafe Operator For Walker’s Point Building

Maria's Cafe is planned to replace Green Baked Goods.

See the 2026 Mayor’s Design Awards Winners

Projects big and small win city's top design honor.

Wisconsin’s Five Largest School Districts Urge Lawmakers to Return to Table on Special Education Funding

MPS Lead-Screening Clinics Open to Community Children in May, June

Free Clinics Will Be at MacDowell on May 19, Riley on June 2

MPS Puts Hold on School Resource Officer Policy, Seeks More Feedback

School officials concerned that community and student groups weren't consulted.

Traffic-Calming Projects Will Impact Mitchell and Metcalfe Schools

Schools on both sides of city see problems with speeding, reckless driving.

Milwaukee Recreation to Hold Second Annual Family Day of Play

Event is set for Saturday, May 30

Rising Fuel Costs Slamming Wisconsin School Districts

Gasoline costs thousands more than already cash-strapped schools budgeted for.

MPS Proposed Budget Adds Teachers and Classroom Support, Reduces Administrative Staff

Balanced Budget Plan to Be Presented to School Board This Week

Teachers Union Loses on School Budget, Wage Hikes

6 board members endorsed by union back superintendent, not MTEA.

MPS Faces Rising Borrowing Costs After Credit Downgrades

Lower ratings from S&P and Fitch could make it pricier to fund school projects and refinance debt.

State To Embed Literacy Coaches In 11 Milwaukee Public Schools

Part of effort that will send coaches to 54 schools statewide.

Alverno College Becomes First Private Institution to Join Milwaukee Public Schools’ Direct Admit Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Board Unanimously Re-Elects Zombor President of Milwaukee Board of School Directors; Ferguson Elected Vice President

Milwaukee Board of School Directors Appoints Leadership at Tuesday’s Annual Organizational Meeting

MPS Board Approves 1.5% Wage Increase for MTEA Represented Employees in July, Additional 1.13% in January

Employees will reach a 2.63% increase by January 2027

Teachers in Milwaukee, Madison Plan Pro-Immigrant Demonstration Friday

Madison schools canceled Friday after 70% of teachers said they would be absent.

MPS Statement Following MTEA Filing a Complaint Against the District

MTEA Files Prohibited Practices Complaint Against MPS Alleging Failure to Bargain in Good Faith

Bay View High School, MPS Unveil Student-Run Food Truck

414 ATE will provide hands-on business training to help students prepare for future careers.

All-In Milwaukee Announces Historic $11 Million Gift From Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg to Support 500 Scholars Over Ten Years

The investment aims to close Milwaukee’s college completion gap and keep local talent in Wisconsin

MPS Celebrates Earth Day on Sustainable Playground

Milwaukee school district has received nearly $40 million to support green initiatives.

MPS Showcases New Sustainability Action Plan on Earth Day

$39+ Million in Grants Support Ongoing Green Initiatives across the District

New Violence Prevention Director Narrowly Approved

Karin Tyler endured rocky approval process, but the job is now hers.

MPS, Third-Party Expert Confirm Accuracy of District Benefit Calculations

MPS April 20, 2026: Media Statement in response to questions from reporters who have seen the MTEA release

MPS Makes Critical $7.5 Million Error in Bargaining Proposals With MTEA

Error Makes Clear that MPS Can Afford MTEA Demand for Full 2.63% COLA on July 1

Milwaukee Recreation & Partners to Hold Biennial Youth Arts and Humanities Showcase at North Division High School

May 15 event is free and open to the public

Public Is Invited to MPS All-City Biennial Music Festival May 6-7

Admission Is Free to Hear 3,500 Student Musicians in Orchestras, Bands, Choirs over 2 Nights at Panther Arena

Sen. Kelda Roys Statement of Support For MTEA During Negotiations

MPS To Add 150 Classroom Staff While Cutting Central Office Jobs

$24.6 million plan shifts resources from non-classroom roles to teachers and aides in schools.

MPS Estimates Adding Nearly 90 More Teachers in 2026-27 as District Works to Manage, Reduce Class Size

Investments in Classrooms Come as School District Outlines Details to Address $46 Million Deficit

Gov. Evers Honors the 2025 Governors Financial Literacy Award Recipients

Council Showdown Set Over Violence Prevention Director

And just how far is Mayor Cavalier Johnson willing to go to fund the department?

Spring Election Concludes With No Major Issues, Officials Report Smooth Election

Milwaukee Central Count’s Quiet Night Sets Stage For Bigger Tests In August, November

Process improvement, decisive victory from Chris Taylor thwart any late-nght theatrics.

Milwaukee Has Become Proving Ground to Save Rohingya Language

Striving to save unique culture of some 4,000 former refuges from Myanmar.

Milwaukee Teachers Union Calls on MPS to Reverse Staff Cuts

Action comes 'at the expense of our students, our classrooms, our school communities.'

What Closing Four Milwaukee TIF Districts Really Means For Your Tax Bill

The end of Hilton, Midtown, Grand Avenue and Granville Station districts brings savings and a lesson in property taxes.

Mayor’s Message To Milwaukee – Home Is Where City Policy Starts

State of the City address spotlights housing.

Mayor Delivers the 2026 State of the City

The Year of Housing is Featured Prominently

Governor Rejects Basic Protections for Property Taxpayers

Evers Vetoes GOP Bill With Limits on School Referendum Requests

One of three Republican education-related bills the governor vetoed.

Wisconsin Students Win Miranda Protections In School Police Encounters

ACLU hails unanimous decision as a major due process victory for kids questioned by officers on campus.

MPS Supporting Employees Receiving Excess Letters as Part of Non-Classroom Reductions

Board-Approved Reductions Provide $30 Million in Savings to Help Protect Classrooms and Close $46 Million Budget Gap

Crowley Hires New Budget Director

He taps Nick Sinram, MPS budget director, to manage county's $1.4 billion budget.

Give Our Public School Workers Their COLA Raise on July 1st

Statement from Alderman Alex Brower March 17, 2026

Crowd Opposes MPS Staff Cuts

But what are alternatives? Divided board backs plan to cut 263 staff to solve deficit.

MPS Plans To Cut 263 Non-Classroom Jobs To Close $46 Million Gap

Superintendent says classroom teaching positions will be spared under cost-cutting plan.

MPS Proposes Reducing About 260 Non-Classroom Positions and Redeploying Resources to Classrooms

Reductions part of a solution to reduce $46 million structural budget gap

Milwaukee Recreation Hosts 2026 Bike Bazaar

Event set for Saturday, March 14 at Riverside High School

Milwaukee Public Schools Reaches Highest Graduation Rate In 16 Years

MPS hits 72% on-time graduation as state numbers climb and absenteeism trends downward statewide.

MPS Students Say School Police Are Policing More Than Crimes

Teens describe hall pass checks and discipline by officers as the district moves to tighten rules and oversight.

MPS Graduation Rate Grows to Highest Point in 15 Years

Sustained growth from 64% for the Class of 2021 to 72% for the Class of 2025

Crowley Seeks to Replace McGovern Senior Center

Administration pushes to close senior center in McGovern Park, find new location.

Milwaukee To Install Malcolm X Marker At Site Of Former Home

Plaque will overlook I-43 on-ramp that replaced civil rights leader’s childhood home.

New Report Finds North Side Schools Failing Black Students

Students underperforming their peers in every state, City Forward Collective finds.

Matt Goodwin Named Commissioner of Athletics & Academics

Goodwin will step into the role today

Parents’ Group Backs MPS Lead Testing, Pushes for Next Steps

Lead Safe Schools MKE calls for ongoing maintenance and review of additional exposure sources.

New Report: Nearly Half of Wisconsin’s Lowest-Performing Schools Are in Milwaukee

City Forward Collective Analysis Shows North Side Education Crisis Drives Wisconsin's Worst-in-Nation Racial Achievement Gaps

Milwaukee Recreation Manager of Operations Receives George Wilson Service Award

Andrew Rossa honored by Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association

WISN’s Kendall Keys to Anchor Weekend Evening Newscasts

City Receives $400,000 Grant For Lead Screening

Monthly clinics focus on early intervention following MPS lead crisis.

Lakefront Brewery Launches Recurring Spelling Bee Event Supporting Milwaukee Public Schools

The inaugural Spelling Bee Showdown expands Lakefront Brewery’s pub-style game offerings after 5 years of popular Wednesday Trivia Nights.

Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm Program Celebrates 20 Years

Cassellius May Use Portable Classrooms for 6th Graders

Part of plan to add grade 6 to expand 23 K-5 schools.

Public Invited to MPS Budget Meetings

First of Four Meetings Will Be on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. James Madison Academic Campus

MPS Lead-Screening Clinic Open to Community Children on February 24

Free Clinic Will Be from 2-5 p.m. at Keefe Ave. School

Milwaukee Bucks to Celebrate HBCU Night, Presented by Johnson Controls, on Sunday, Feb. 22, Vs. Toronto Raptors

Bucks and Johnson Controls to provide two local high school students with $10,000 HBCU scholarship

MPS Shares Initial Base Wage Proposals as Budget Planning Continues

Jazz-Focused Cafe Closing

Sam's Place Jazz Cafe is closing. And Sam will be gone fishing.

Aisha Carr Sentenced to 18-Months Probation

Former controversial school board director pleads guilty to campaign finance violation.

Cassellius Wants to Restructure MPS

To close middle schools and have two levels: preschool to grade 6; and 7-12.

Are Milwaukee Schools Vulnerable to Measles Outbreak?

Only 11% of 152 schools in city are at herd immunity levels of 95% for MMR vaccine.

Registration for MPS’s Summer Academy Opens on February 16

Classes Will Take Place Weekday Mornings from July 6-30 at 15 Sites

Carmen Moving School To King Drive

Move is final piece of breakup with Milwaukee Public Schools.

Milwaukee Public Schools Appeals Wiaa Conference Realignment Decision

MPS will present its appeal on Thursday, February 19

Milwaukee Labor Unions Demand Rogers Behavioral Health Stop Union Busting

Wisconsin mental health provider fires three caregivers days after they informed management in person that they and their coworkers were forming a union

$5 Million Grant to MPS Will Strengthen Mental Health Supports for Students

Partnerships with Alverno College and UW-Madison Will Expand District's Pipeline of School Psychologists

MPS Faces $46 Million Budget Deficit

Superintendent Cassellius proposes a list of mid-year cuts.

Statement from Ald. Peter Burgelis on New Fiscal Transparency Measures and MPS Budget Accountability

February 10, 2026

Milwaukee Schools Have Low Level of Dual Enrollment Participation

College level courses less likely at schools with high rates of poverty.

Common Council to Recognize Reuben Harpole, Peter Feigin during Tomorrow’s Meeting

MPS Budget Priorities Focus on Students: Protecting Classrooms, Capping Class Sizes, Cutting Central Office Budgets

District to Negotiate Raises up to CPI, Based on Existing Bargaining Processes

Statement from School Board Member Megan O’Halloran Opposing Proposal to Move Reagan High School Out of the Milwaukee City Conference

New Large-Scale Community Mural Planned on Corner of Kilbourn and N. Vel R. Phillips at Tenor Journal Square High School

Acclaimed Community Artist Leading Community Design Process Celebrating Educational Journeys in Milwaukee

Should All Students Get Free School Lunches?

Gov. Evers supports it. But will it could hurt poorer school districts?

DEI Backlash Puts Milwaukee’s Special Ed Teacher Pipeline at Risk

Trump’s order to eliminate DEI from schools leads to loss of $3.28 million grant.

Five Districts, One Message: Wisconsin Families and Schools Need Relief Now

Bars and Restaurants Announce Closures, Shortened Hours Due To Cold

Several closures planned as wind chills are anticipated to reach -40.

Common Council Acts to Protect Taxpayers Following Historic Property Tax Increases Driven by MPS Referendum