A REPORT
To the Citizens of Metropolitan Milwaukee
On the Work of the Executive Board and Members of the
Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators
to Close the Achievement Gap between
Black and White Students in the Milwaukee Public Schools

January 2006

MMABSE’S MISSION
is to enhance and facilitate the education of
all students particularly those of African descent.

MMABSE is in the forefront addressing the achievement gap issue.
After MMABSE held The Save Our Students “Closing the Gap” Summit in February 2004,
there has been renewed interest in the achievement gap by other groups.
MMABSE applauds their efforts, initiatives, and partnerships.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• August 2005 Dr. William H. Cosby Town-Hall Forums in which he engages students from
  community agencies, in foster care and from MPS on post-secondary education
  opportunities
• 
  Co-Sponsors: Offices of County Executive, the Mayor, the Milwaukee Public Schools
  September 2005 Development of “Blueprint for Action” closing the gap recommendations
• 
  October 2005 MMABSE’s Annual Fall Conference “Closing the Achievement Gap:
  A Blueprint for Action” Focusing on best practices to close the achievement gap
• 
  January 2006 Presentation at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Conference on
  Closing the Achievement Gap

Survey to MPS Learning Teams on professional development needs in order to plan
April 2006 summit

Presentation to MPS Board’s Innovation/School Reform Committee

February 2006 • Post-Cosby Seminars for students focusing on preparing for careers and
post-secondary opportunities

Teacher Leadership Symposium: “PI 34 and High Performing Classroom Strategies”
Funded through a grant from The National Education Association Foundation

Writing Contest for 6-12 MPS students on how they overcome challenges to be
successful in school

• 
  April 2006 The Save Our Students “Closing the Gap” Summit focusing on exemplar school and
  classroom based closing the achievement gap action plans; writing contest winners
  recognized
  Funded through a grant from the National Education Association Foundation
• 
  May 2006 Teacher Recognition Gala to recognize exemplary MPS teachers who closed the
  achievement gap
• 
  May 2006 Student Recognition Award Program to recognize students for improvement and
  achievement and to award scholarships to high school seniors
• 
  June 2006 National Conference co-sponsored with the Milwaukee Partnership Academy
  EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE: CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS
  THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND LEADERSHIP
• 
  Funded through a grant from the National Education Association Foundation
  Web Address: www.mmabse.org Email Address: mmabse@aol.com Voice Mail: 414-299-9021
• 
  

  August 2005 Dr. William H. Cosby Town-Hall Forums in which he engages students from
  community agencies, in foster care and from MPS on post-secondary education
  opportunities
  
  October 2003 Commission Chairs meet to address achievement problems in school district
• 
  November 2003 Meeting of MMABSE Commission Chairs
• 
  Discussion of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel headline declaring
  Wisconsin leading nation in test gap for white, black 8th graders
• 
  Achievement gap selected as MMABSE’s focus
• 
  Decision to sponsor a Closing the Gap Summit and selection
  of priority theme: “A Commitment to Change…A Pledge to Act”
• 
  February 24, 2004 Summit held to focus on strategies to close the gap in achievement, attendance
  and behavior and attended by a contingent of educators, politicians, parents and
  community advocates
• 
  February 25, 2005 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article ‘Time has come to act’ on learning gap
  in reference to MMABSE’s summit
• 
  March 2004 Commission Chairs decide to publish a closing the gap document based on summit
  in order to share summit recommendations at local, state and national levels and to
  encourage conversations among parents, teachers, government and private sectors
• 
  May 2004 Teacher Recognition Gala that recognized exemplary MPS teachers
• 
  Recognition Program that awarded plaques to K-12 students for improvement
  and achievement and $3000 in scholarships to high school seniors
• 
  Summer 2004 Commission chairs complete summit document
• 
  August 2004 Harcourt prints The Save Our Students “Closing the Gap” Summit document
• 
  August through Widespread distribution of document including copies to the Wisconsin Department
• 
  November 2004 of Public Instruction, the U.S. Department of Education, the MPS Board of School
  Directors, Offices of the County Executive, Mayor, and MPS Superintendent
• 
  October 19, 2004 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial “Don’t miss this conference” in reference to
  MMABSE Closing the Gap Annual Fall Conference and Bill Cosby Visit
• 
  October 20, 2004 Dr. William H. Cosby Visit to Milwaukee
  Co-Sponsor: MMABSE, Office of the Mayor, and the
  Wisconsin Black Media Association
• 
  October 28, 2004 MMABSE Rolls Out Closing the Gap Action Plan
• 
  Press Conference at Annual Conference to Announce Plan
  Speakers: MMABSE President Rogers E. Onick, Milwaukee County Executive
  Scott Walker, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, MPS Board Member Charlene Hardin,
  MPS Superintendent William Andrekopoulos, Alverno College President Sister
  Joel Read, and Milwaukee Urban League President Ralph Hollmon
• 
  MMABSE’s Closing the Gap Document Released
• 
  Annual Fall Conference Attendees Discuss Document,
  Develop Learning Gap Strategies, and Sign Pledges to Act
• 
  January 2005 1st Speaker Action Series at Holy Redeemer COGIC featuring Faith-Based
  community and the achievement gap
• 
  Intra Commission project established to form coalitions with organizations and
  agencies to collaboratively implement solutions to close the achievement gap
• 
  February 2005 Intra Commission Training of members for outreach community project
• 
  MMABSE’s gap document presentation at Lakeshore Leadership Conference
  on Closing the Achievement Gap
  Resolution from the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of
• School Directors
  recognizing MMABSE for its initiatives to address the gap issue
• 
  March 2005 Intra Commission Teams form partnerships with the Milwaukee Branch NAACP
  and Cream City Medical Society to address education issues
• 
  MMABSE President presents closing the gap strategies to Milwaukee Public
  School principals at monthly MPS General Principals’ Meeting
• 
  March 14-18, 2005 • MMABSE’s Parent Commission sponsors first annual
  “Visit Your Child’s School Campaign” and holds Press Conference
• 
  May 2005 • Teacher Recognition Gala that recognized exemplary MPS teachers
• 
  Recognition Program that awarded plaques to K-12 students for improvement
  and achievement and $5000 in scholarships to high school seniors
• 
  June 2005 National Education Association Foundation grant awarded, to close the
  achievement gap, to: Milwaukee Partnership Academy, the MPS, and the
  Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association
• 
  Parent Commission workshops at MPS Leadership Institute
  
  Web Address: www.mmabse.org           Email Address: mmabse@aol.com