Guiding Principles

Recognizing much discussion and work remains in order to make this plan actionable and ready for implementation, the following principles were established to guide our union’s efforts. Our union of educators believes these principles address the issues that are of the most importance to those affected by the success of Milwaukee’s public schools.

1. The initiative is driven by one mission: student and community success. A strong educational structure benefits the city of Milwaukee, its residents, surrounding communities, and the state in countless ways. For many complicated reasons, Milwaukee Public Schools are not providing acceptable educational outcomes for a large number of students. The plan positions Milwaukee Public Schools as the cornerstone of a thriving community, leading to student success and paving the way for other schools to follow.
2. The solution is community-based, uniting the community instead of dividing it. The plan calls on stakeholders to collaborate and communicate for the purpose of improving educational opportunities for all children. School reform is most effective when it is embraced by the community and based on what makes a difference for student learning. The best change occurs when there is meaningful involvement, cooperation, and collaboration among participants.
3. There is mutual ownership, responsibility and accountability among all stakeholders. The plan is comprehensive, and clearly defines the roles of all key stakeholders including the state, Milwaukee Public Schools leadership, our union of educators, district and school administrators, professional associations, families, city and county leaders, and community and business leaders.
4. The plan restores educational opportunities for all students. The plan addresses current barriers to educational opportunities. Targeted areas include adequate resources for classrooms and schools; safety improvements; access to health care and proper nutrition; family involvement; time for remediation; and teaching enriching subjects like music and art. The plan ensures that students in Milwaukee have the same opportunities that are commonplace in other Wisconsin schools.
5. The solution requires a sustained commitment. While the potential for federal funding serves as a catalyst to promote reform, the changes must be sustainable. The plan requires sufficient time for planning at the building levels, enough time to demonstrate significant improvement, and a commitment from the community and state to continue supporting educational improvement. With sustained commitment, successful programs can serve as long-term solutions that can be duplicated in Milwaukee Public Schools and other Wisconsin schools that are in need of improvement.
   

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