Mtea Receives Grant To Help Close Achievement Gap

The NEA Foundation has awarded a grant to the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association to support its effort in closing the achievement gap. Milwaukee will receive $500,000, and the grant is renewable for four years.

The grant will allow us to continue and to expand upon important work already begun by the Milwaukee Partnership Academy,” said William Andrekopolous, superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools. “All of us are committed to taking the partnership’s efforts to a new level and working with the larger community to close the achievement gaps for our students.”

A core partner is the community-based Milwaukee Partnership Academy, created in 1999, which brings together leaders in the union, school district, government, and business and civic groups. The Milwaukee partners plan to build on their foundation and take their commitment to a higher level to close the achievement gap.

The grant will help Milwaukee Public Schools to reduce the dropout rate, improve students’ academic performance, ensure that every low-performing school in the district has well-qualified staff, and guarantee that students have the instructional support to succeed in a rigorous curriculum.

Posted July 18, 2005