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

(MILWAUKEE) — Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced today that MPS estimates it will have 89 more classroom teaching positions next school year as part of a plan to manage and reduce class sizes while building a balanced 2026–27 budget.

The investment in staffing comes as MPS addresses a $46 million deficit identified in the district’s 2024–25 budget by external auditors. As the district works to prepare a balanced budget for 2026-27 as required by state law, it remains focused on protecting resources going directly to classrooms.

These numbers are preliminary estimates and will continue to be reviewed as we continue to assess critical needs requests from schools and seek additional savings.

Estimates include:

• 89 more licensed classroom teaching positions next year, from 3,903 to 3,992, with staffing levels adjusted based on enrollment and student needs
• 63 more paraprofessional positions, expanding from 1,319 to 1,382, including new guidelines that place paraprofessionals in early childhood classrooms and supporting schools that requested flexibility around class size standards
• 5 more school psychologist positions supported by a newly acquired federal grant
• No change to the total number of art, music, and physical education teachers (443) or the number of library positions (118)

District staffing decisions are based on applying a level of support at each school to meet student needs, while approving critical requests for additional classroom support. There may be limited decreases in other positions based on enrollment or student needs. School leaders also received their budgets for supplies and related expenses this spring.

To address the budget deficit and rising costs, MPS is identifying savings wherever possible. A detailed budget presentation is posted on the district’s 2026-27 budget planning page. Savings include:

• For this school year, a soft hiring freeze on nonessential positions (classroom positions are essential) as well as an estimated $5 million to $10 million in contract savings following a comprehensive review by the district’s procurement and senior leadership teams
• For next school year, MPS has identified approximately $160 million in new revenue and savings, including:
• $47 million in new referendum revenue
• $30 million from reductions in Central Services and non-classroom positions (including about 70 positions based at central office, 62 implementers and 59 assistant principals)
• $11 million in increased state special education reimbursement
• $40 million in short-term savings resulting from fewer charter schools, although the enrollment will decrease future revenue

At the same time, MPS anticipates approximately $154 million to $171 million in new expenses. Specific items include:

• Eliminating the $46 million deficit
• $25 million to $42 million in wage increases, including step and lane increases for longevity and education as well a cost of living increase up to 2.63%, currently in active bargaining with union partners; all offers presented bring all employees to a 2.63% base wage increase by January 1
• $24.6 million for additional classroom positions to manage and reduce class size
• $20 million in increased employee benefit costs, including healthcare
• In addition, the district is meeting and conferring alongside union partners to seek to increase paraprofessional hours and address compensation for children’s health assistants ($3.6 million estimated cost).

The district’s budget decisions are being made amid long-standing external challenges faced by school districts statewide, including more than 15 years without inflation-adjusted increases in general state aid and no new general aid in the 2025–27 state budget. Recent voter-approved referendums have offset but not replaced all lost funding.

MPS remains focused on its board-approved priorities — protecting classrooms, keeping schools safe, investing in student achievement, and restoring fiscal health — and will present its final budget to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors in May.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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