My purpose tonight is to give an overview of MMABSE’s “Closing the Gap’ document. We unveiled it at our Annual Fall Conference in October 2004 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center – Airport. It was printed by Harcourt Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Assessment and supporter of MMABSE.
MMABSE published this document to assist educators and others who are interested in working on closing a persistent achievement gap between students of different races and socioeconomic classes. The document describes the work of the Metropolitan Milwaukee community. It is a compilation of what Summit participants said needs to be done to close the achievement gap.
MMABSE’s four commissions in collaboration with a parent/community committee compiled five reports into one single document which includes issues, recommendations, and summaries. Recommendations in the document are based on the collaborative dialogues and action plans of citizens in the Metropolitan Milwaukee area who came together on February 24, 2004, to address the gap issue. The significance of this document thus lies in the fact that it is a true community collaborative effort.
You received this document because you represent the largest constituency of minority families in Wisconsin. The document was developed by citizens you represent. In addition, the document can serve as a guide to support and confirm efforts and initiatives that you clearly and aggressively are already pursuing and implementing on behalf of MPS families to close the performance gap in achievement, behavior, and attendance between Black and White students in the Milwaukee Public Schools. You can become involved in activities enumerated in the “Next Steps for MMABSE” section on page 6 of the document. You can also create and implement your own personal, individual or collective plan without MMABSE’s involvement, or you can forward information to the MMABSE Commission Chairpersons at P.O. Box 2132, Milwaukee 53201. The key question MMABSE asks our citizens is “What are you committed to doing?” We published this document as an answer to this question. As you examine the document, you should recognize that many of the recommendations contained in it are initiatives you already have in place throughout schools around the district. That fact should be encouragement and indicate that you have been on the right track for some time.
The document addresses issues of concern with respect to three key areas: student behavior, truancy, and academic achievement. The question MMABSE posed to the Citizens of Metropolitan Milwaukee who attended the Summit was “What does the City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public School District need to do to affect changes in the areas of achievement, student behavior and truancy for the lowest achieving students? At the 2004 Summit, the breakout sessions were MMABSE’s commissions, District Administration, Higher Education, Public Policy, and Program Development, and the Parent/Community committee. The Document recommendations are arranged in this way.
Recommendations in this document may be used to begin or continue conversations. As significant as conversations are, however, they are not enough. The document is therefore a guide for meaningful action. Recommendations may also be modified, and then prioritized. Action plans supported by follow-up monitoring strategies must then be developed and implemented. Additional recommendations can be generated based on conversations. The document can be reproduced as often as necessary. We ask that anyone reproducing or referencing the document to please credit MMABSE as the source.
The MMABSE “Closing the Gap” document is a living testament to the efforts of citizens. The prevailing issues articulated by them in 2004 are as appropriate now as they were then. There are approximately 230 recommendations. Five themes characterize the issues and recommendations in the document:
- The quality of teaching including teacher preparation and readiness
- The alignment of the school’s curriculum to the district’s standards
- Increased parental involvement
- The professional development of teachers
- School climate and culture including high expectations for students and adults
For example, if you look at the Commission on Higher Education Recommendations and Summary, starting on pages 20 through 27, you will see the above themes weaved in the key areas of achievement, attendance, and behavior. Similarly, Summit participants who attended the Commission on Public Policy session (their recommendations start on page 30) made recommendations that also reflect the above five themes.
Since there are over 200 recommendations, it may be best to look for common threads in one of the three key areas of achievement, behavior, and truancy. For example, if you look at the area academic achievement, it might be useful to identify the recommendations made about achievement by all five groups. It may also be useful to identify what MPS is now doing that relates to the recommendations in any or all three of the key areas. In other words, there are many ways this document can be used. It is up to the user to decide the best course of action that makes the best sense according to your purpose and mission. It is important to remember that the document is a guide for significant action. Steps do not have to be large. Small beginnings can yield big dividends. What is important is to remember that the citizens of Milwaukee created the document when they met in February of 2004 to strategize ways to close the achievement gap in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Use of the document is therefore recognition of what your constituents say can be done to address achievement disparities, restore hope, and build an enlightened, productive, and strong citizenry, thereby strengthening democracy and democratic principles. MMABSE invites the Board of School Directors to use the document to continue your conversations about what needs to be done to close the achievement gap.
MMABSE has been in the forefront addressing the gap issue. Since we made the clarion call back in 2004, we have been joined by many other groups and organizations that are now focusing on the achievement gap. We are encouraged by the efforts of so many others because we need many hands and minds to eradicate the gap problem.
MMABSE Commission Chairs wanted you and our members to know what MMABSE has been doing and plans to do to close the achievement gap so. At this time, I would like to provide you copies of MMABSE’s brochure outlining our accomplishments since 2003 to address the achievement gap issue. Report to the Citizens of Milwaukee We plan to build on these initiatives. I will not go through all of the initiatives listed in the brochure but would like to call attention to several MMABSE sponsored or co-sponsored events during the months of February, April, May, and June of 2006: We are sponsoring a Teacher Leadership Workshop in February. In April we will hold our second “Closing the Gap” Summit. In conjunction with the Summit, there will be an MPS Writing Contest for students in grades 6 through 12 on how they have overcome obstacles to be successful. Winners will be recognized in the Summit program booklet and receive gift certificates to Barnes and Nobles at the Summit luncheon. In May, MMABSE will host its 4th Annual Teacher Recognition Gala and, in June, we will co-sponsor with the Milwaukee Partnership Academy the “Embrace the Challenge: Closing the Achievement Gaps” through Leadership and Partnerships,” a national conference.
My purpose tonight was to formally present the MMABSE “Closing the Gap” Summit document and our brochure detailing our gap initiatives. MMABSE is in the process of refining its blueprint for action. There is still much to do, and MMABSE looks forward to providing the support needed to improve the life chances of Milwaukee’s neediest students in our public schools.
As part of our efforts to build coalitions, MMABSE would like to return to this committee in May or later this year with our "Blueprint for Action." It will include specific recommendations that can be acted on as appropriate by Boards like yours and other groups and organizations in the Metropolitan Milwaukee area. Our recommendations will be drawn from this document. Some will likely be initiatives already taken by the Board of School Directors, and you and the MPS Administration have done much about which to be proud. In these cases, MMABSE will be offering encouragement and our support to you to continue your fine efforts. We will work with Dr. Aquine Jackson, Chief of Academic Excellence.
Again, on behalf of the Executive Board and Members of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators, I would like to express our gratitude to you for providing us the opportunity to advance the focus on the achievement gap through this presentation to you tonight. We look forward to returning later this year and continuing the positive relationship and collaboration with you. Thank you.
