Learning Acceleration Tools Crucial to Closing the Pandemic Learning Gap in Milwaukee's Inner Ci

Monetary Donation

Date Needed By: 08/15/2024

Contact Name: Robyn Swernoff, Chief External Affairs Officer

Amount Needed: $50,000.00

Details on what is needed:

The impact on students following the COVID-19 pandemic based on two key markers--achievement in reading and mathematics--are still apparent. In fact, according to 2003 Center for Schools and Student Progress, the average student will need the equivalent of 4.1 extra months in reading and 4.5 extra months in math to overcome the achievement gap. In nearly all grades nationwide, NWEA Research found that while students grew academically in the 2022-23 school year, achievement gains fell short of pre-pandemic trends, which stalled progress toward pandemic recovery. Marginalized students remain the furthest from academic recovery.

The learning gap between Black and White students in Milwaukee continues to expand and is among the worst in the nation. The 2022 Nation's Report Card for 4th graders reported that Black students had an average score that was 44 points lower than that for White students in math and 50 points lower in reading. The overall gap in Milwaukee is nearly twice that of the national average for Black students.

Providing hope through education, Milwaukee College Prep (MCP) has been a trailblazer, a disrupter, and a constant reminder that all children are capable of great things, no matter their zip code. MCP is headed into its 27th year as a leading network of four public charter schools in Milwaukee that every child K-8th grade is eligible to attend free of charge. MCP’s campuses are deliberately situated in some of the most segregated neighborhoods in the nation’s most segregated city, which is home to the nation’s largest race-based achievement gap. And yet, MCP is proving that it doesn’t have to be that way.

In fact, a new study conducted by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) shows that charter school students are now outpacing their peers in traditional public schools in math and reading achievement. In charter schools, Black and Hispanic students, as well as students in poverty, have stronger growth than their traditional public school peers. However, gains are not equal to their White peers, creating learning gaps for many students. This CREDO Report founds that Milwaukee College Prep ranked 9th in reading and 36th in math of all charter schools studied nationwide! Students of color, those from low-income families, and students with mild to moderate disabilities have less access than their peers to grade-appropriate assignments, strong instruction, deep engagement, and teachers who hold high expectations. With a proven model of success, MCP is closing the indefensible achievement gap in our city. No matter the age or the campus, MCP schools live the organization’s mission, “knowledge plus character pave the road to college and beyond.”

Further, Milwaukee College Prep is among the 27% of all Milwaukee-area schools that rated “above expectations” according to the 2022-23 DPI report card. Measured by student progress on statewide tests, in 2022-23 MCP scholars experienced significant growth. In fact, our Lloyd Street School’s growth score was the same or higher than 83.2% of K-8 schools in the State of Wisconsin! Milwaukee College Prep has the proven strategies to successfully close the opportunity gap for Black youth in the City of Milwaukee. Your support is crucial in acting as a catalyst to close the still-persistent Pandemic Gap. One way that MCP is working to close the learning gap with our scholars is through learning acceleration tools. MCP has invested in acceleration tools in both math and ELA to boost scholar achievement and close the pandemic learning gap. Our scholars demonstrate consistent improvement with the integration of digital accelerator platforms, proving the continued need for these tools in the future to ensure the continued academic success of our scholars.

Please consider making a donation to Milwaukee College Prep to allow us to purchase and implement the learning acceleration tools necessary that will help our scholars to successfully close the learning gap caused by racial inequities and the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on Milwaukee College Prep (MCP), please visit our website: https://www.milwaukeecollegeprep.com/