Milwaukee Public Schools’ (MPS) phased-in reopening recommendation for the 2020-21 school year was unanimously approved by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. The Board, in a 7-2 vote, also approved to maintain the early and traditional start calendars for the school year.

The phased in approach includes, Phase 1-full remote learning, Phase 2-hybird learning, and Phase 3-face-to-face learning with virtual option.

MPS will start the school year with virtual learning for all students. As the spread of COVID-19 decreases, students will return to schools for two days each week for face-to-face learning and virtual three days each week. Phase three will allow all students to return to the classroom five days a week, when conditions are healthy to return. MPS will monitor public health conditions to determine movement between each phase.

“To help preserve the health and well-being of our students and staff, we believe virtual learning is the best scenario at this time,” MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley said. “This was a difficult decision but a necessary one as we work diligently to provide the best education for our students. We look forward to returning to in-class instruction but only when we can do so safely.”

As details continue to develop, the district will provide information to students, families, and staff regarding the upcoming school year. Families are encouraged to stay up to date with information about the fall semester by visiting the MPS website, downloading the MPS App on their smartphones, and following MPS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

To enroll, visit mpsmke.com/enroll, call 414-267-5100, or take part in Curbside Enrollment at MPS Central Services on August 3 and 4.

Help your child keep learning! With schools closed due to coronavirus, it’s important for students to learn while at home. MPS will be closed for at least three weeks of regular class time.

MPS is currently offering instructional learning materials at all 20 “Stop, Grab, and Go” locations along with packaged meals for students. Learn more about this program on the MPS COVID-19 Update page. These instructional materials are filled with activities to support and enrich learning during the extended closure.

Students and families can also access a number of online resources selected by the MPS Office of Academics. Online access to websites for enrichment in reading, writing, math, science, and more for all grade levels are provided below.

Accessing the Student Toolbox

Step 1: Click Student Toolbox from the MPS webpage OR Go to clever.com/in/milwaukee.

Step 2: Click ‘Log in with Google’ (Use your MPS Google login).

Students first will be asked for their Google login. Students should enter their S# followed by @milwaukee.k12.wi.us; for example, s1234567@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Students then will be asked to enter their password. Students should enter their date of birth in the format of mm/dd/yy; for example, 03/10/05.

Step 3: Select a program and start learning!

The vision of Milwaukee Public Schools is to provide an equitable educational environment that is child-centered, supports achievement, and respects and embraces diversity. The district is launching a community survey designed to gather input about important education topics and is seeking the input of students, families, educators, staff and all community members. The results of the district survey will be used to determine how we can strengthen our students’ academic experiences and enrich opportunities for them.

Everyone in the city is encouraged to take the survey and attend a listening session. The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, can be accessed at mpsmke.com/survey. Survey responses are confidential, and the survey will remain open until September 12, 2019.

MPS encourages attendance at a series of listening sessions designed for the community to provide feedback and help guide MPS in creating a learning community that achieves a vision. Please plan to attend one or more sessions.

• Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning (WCLL; 1017 N. 12th Street) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Reagan High School (4965 S. 20th Street) from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, September 23, 2019 at North Division High School (1011 W. Center Street) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at Vincent High School (7501 N. Granville Road) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For questions regarding this process, please contact MPS at 414-475-8388 or feedback@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. We look forward to hearing from you!

This FREE fun fair hosted by MPS will include food, games, prizes, a bounce house, brewers ticket giveaways, face painting, special, guests, music and more! FREE backpacks will be given to the first 100 attendees, on a first-come-first-serve basis while supplies last. Start the year off with a celebration!

Sunday, August 11 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wick Field (4929 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee, WI)

Please let us know how many guests (including yourself!) you’ll be bringing to this fun-filled event!

https://tinyurl.com/mpsback2school

MPS has more head start seats available throughout the city.  Milwaukee Public Schools is enrolling head start students for the upcoming school year!  Receive a free one-year family membership to the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum when you enroll July 29 to August 2. Children who will turn 3 or 4 years old by September 1 are eligible for free Head Start programming. Family income limits apply. Please contact the MPS Lee Learning Center for details at 414-252-0350 or visit mpsmke.com/headstart. Register now—MPS Early Start schools begin August 12!

To respond to a heat advisory issued for Milwaukee on July 18 and 19, Milwaukee Public Schools is making important changes to the Summer Academy and Summer Recreation sites and programs.

All students in Summer Academy should report to their regular summer sites. After students are served breakfast, students from select schools will be bused to another MPS location for the remainder of the session.

Students who normally go home after lunch will be bused back to their regular school site; those students who are normally bused home will continue home on the bus. Students who normally stay for the afternoon extended care program will be bused back to their regular school site at 5:00; those students who are normally bused home will continue home on the bus.

Some Summer Recreation Child Care Camp, Community Learning Centers (CLCs), Safe Places, and Summer Enrichment Camps will be relocated.

For a list of all site changes to Summer Academy and Summer Recreation, please see the list below.

Summer Academy field trips that take place at air-conditioned off-site locations will take place as scheduled. Outdoor field trips may be cancelled—families should check with their child’s program for details.

Summer Academy Heat Advisory Relocations, July 18–19, 2019

Heat Advisory Relocations for Child Care Camps, Community Learning Centers (CLCs), Safe Places, and Summer Enrichment Camps

Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19, 2019

All children and families are advised to limit strenuous activity, drink plenty of water, wear lightweight clothing, and seek air-conditioned places when possible.

Milwaukee Recreation Cool Spot locations and wading pools are extending hours and will remain open until 7:00 p.m. on July 18 and 19.

Cool Spot Locations

Benjamin Franklin School, 2308 W. Nash St.

Carmen Playfield, 7320 W. Carmen Ave.

Franklin Square Playfield, 2643 N. 13th St.

Green Bay Avenue Playfield, 3818 N. 8th St.

Wading Pool Locations

Burnham Playfield, 1755 S. 32nd St.

Enderis Playfield, 2978 N. 72nd St.

Holt Playfield, 1716 W. Holt Ave.

Merrill Playfield, 461 N. 35th St.

Modrzejewski Playfield, 1020 W. Cleveland Ave.

Ohio Playfield, 974 W. Holt Ave.

The hot summer weather took a long time to arrive, but it’s finally here! Now it’s time to cool off and have some summer fun. Milwaukee Recreation offers free Cool Spots and wading pools to give children a break from the heat.

Cool Spots

Cool Spots are for children ages 6 to 17. On days when the temperature is predicted to be 85º or above, or when the City of Milwaukee calls a heat advisory, all Cool Spots will be open. Sprinklers run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, through August 9, 2019.

Cool Spot Locations

Benjamin Franklin School, 2308 W. Nash St.
Carmen Playfield, 7320 W. Carmen Ave.
Franklin Square Playfield, 2643 N. 13th St.
Green Bay Avenue Playfield, 3818 N. 8th St.

Wading Pools

For children age 8 and under, wading pools are a great spot for free fun.

Hours: Monday—Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., through August 24, 2019.

Wading Pool Locations

Burnham Playfield, 1755 S. 32nd St.
Enderis Playfield, 2978 N. 72nd St.
Holt Playfield, 1716 W. Holt Ave.
Merrill Playfield, 461 N. 35th St.
Modrzejewski Playfield, 1020 W. Cleveland Ave.
Ohio Playfield, 974 W. Holt Ave.

Milwaukee Public Schools declared its sixth school closure day this year due to weather on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. To account for all instructional hours required by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, a number of calendar changes were proposed by MPS. The calendar changes were approved by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors on February 12.

The calendar changes are designed to minimize the impact on the overall school calendar and to avoid adding school days to the end of the year. Parents should take note of a significant change that makes Tuesday, February 19, an attendance day for all students. Prior to the weather closings, school was not scheduled to be in session on this date.

MPS partnership and charter schools, whose calendars may differ from the MPS calendar, may opt to revise and distribute calendar changes directly to families.

The complete list of adjustments to the remainder of the 2018–19 school year appears below. To download a flyer showing the calendar modifications, visit mpsmke.com/calendar

Students in Grades K–8 on the Traditional Calendar

• Beginning Monday, February 25, 2019, five additional instructional minutes will be added to each school day.

• February 19, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• April 2, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• June 13, 2019, formerly a records day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• June 14, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a records day (no student attendance).

Students in Grades K–8 on the Early Start Calendar

• Beginning Monday, February 25, 2019, five additional instructional minutes will be added to each school day.

• February 19, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• April 2, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• May 23, 2019, formerly a records day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• May 24, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a records day (no student attendance).

Students in Grades 9–12 on the Early Start Calendar

• Beginning Monday, February 25, 2019, 12 additional instructional minutes will be added to each school day.

• February 19, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• April 2, 2019, formerly a professional development day for staff, will be a full student attendance day.

• May 20, 2019, formerly an exam day, will be a full student attendance day.

• May 21, 2019, formerly an exam day, will be a full student attendance day.

• May 23, 2019, formerly a records day, will be a half-day of student attendance for exams.

• May 24, 2019, formerly a professional development day, will be a half-day of student attendance for exams.