City Forward Collective Responds To The Outcome of the MPS Referendum

MILWAUKEE – City Forward Collective (CFC) issued the following statement in response to the passage of the April 2, 2024 Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) referendum election.

The passionate discourse of the last month should serve as both a signal and a collective call to action for our entire community.  It’s a signal that the status quo, business as usual, cannot continue—not at Milwaukee Public Schools or for our city’s K12 schools as a whole. And, it’s a call to collective action: for all of us to move beyond divisive rhetoric and personal attacks, and come together to deliver on the promise of high-quality educational opportunities for all Milwaukee students, no matter their choice of school.

The passage of the MPS referendum reflects our community’s desire to invest in the future of our city’s students. While a thriving Milwaukee education ecosystem requires a healthy MPS, we know that referendum dollars alone won’t deliver that. We still need a plan, and City Forward Collective will continue to inform, engage, and advocate to ensure transparency and accountability in how these additional resources are used by MPS.

Yesterday’s vote should not be the last word; it should begin a long-term, collective, and citywide conversation about improving academic outcomes for all Milwaukee students and all the schools that serve them. Our city needs a comprehensive plan for education – one that involves all stakeholders, ensures accountability and transparency, and engages everyone in developing a strategic approach to transform the city’s educational ecosystem and positively impact student achievement.

City Forward Collective will continue to advocate for these values and work tirelessly with MPS and other stakeholders to advance innovative solutions and secure the necessary resources to ensure that every Milwaukee child receives an excellent education at the high-quality school of their choice.

For more information, contact Colleston Morgan Jr. at colleston.morgan@cityforwardcollective.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.