MPS Selected for Nationwide Effort to Expand Advanced Coursework

(MILWAUKEE) — Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius today announced MPS is one of just 24 districts nationwide selected to join the inaugural cohort of the Social Mobility Leadership Network (SMLN), a national effort aimed at giving more students access to high-quality advanced coursework in high school.

The multiyear initiative, led by the Aspen Institute’s Education & Society Program (ESP) and the College Board, is designed to help one million students nationwide.

“Our students are capable of achieving at high levels when we give them the tools, support, and quality materials to unlock their potential,” said Dr. Cassellius. “Across MPS, our talented educators are implementing proven techniques to accelerate student achievement. By joining the Social Mobility Leadership Network, we are giving a powerful boost to this work.”

MPS will be able to leverage its participation in the program to expand student access to Advanced Placement® (AP®), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment coursework — coursework that allows students to earn college credit while still in high school.

The district currently exceeds the state average for students passing advanced courses, with more than 32 percent of students successfully completing an AP, IB or Project Lead The Way (PLTW) course. The state average is just over 20 percent. Participation in the cohort will help MPS increase the percentage of students completing dual enrollment courses from its current 6.8 percent rate, below the state average of 26.6 percent.

The selection process for participation was highly competitive, with applicants evaluated on leadership commitment, data infrastructure, and readiness to implement high-quality advanced coursework at scale. Superintendents and senior district leaders will officially launch the cohort this month, beginning a three-year learning arc that runs through 2029.

Over the next three years, districts in the network will build on their progress by deepening efforts across four core areas: using data to expand the identification of high-potential students; refining policies and systems to broaden access; strengthening instructional readiness for educators and students; and reinforcing the shared belief that all students can succeed in advanced academic learning.

By 2029, participating districts aim to significantly increase the proportion of low-income and other students who have been historically underrepresented in advanced coursework who take part in at least one high-quality AP, IB, or dual enrollment course. Each district will set goals based on where they are starting and track progress over three years using shared measures.

“These districts are raising their hands to do something bold,” said Dr. Janice K. Jackson, executive director of the Education & Society Program at the Aspen Institute. “They’ve demonstrated readiness to challenge old assumptions about who belongs in advanced coursework and build systems to find and support students who have been overlooked. We’re proud to work alongside these districts as they open doors for students across their communities.”

“A century ago, this country decided a high school education should be universal, and we built the system to deliver it. That decision helped power the century that followed,” said David Coleman, CEO of College Board. “We are at a similar inflection point now, and access to high-quality advanced coursework is one of the strongest levers left for rebuilding social mobility. Our schools are where the opportunity is built, and the leaders from these districts are ready to pick up the tools and invite every student with the talent to seize it.”

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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