Grant supports MPS seniors who delayed college due to pandemic

MPS high school seniors will receive a boost to help apply for college in the form of a $98,000 grant from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN). Recognizing that college applications have declined for the Classes of 2020 and 2021, NCAN has worked to formulate solutions to support students, especially students of color and those who are economically challenged.

From among 142 proposals, MPS received one of 23 grants made possible by the generous support of The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program. The grants, totaling $1.6 million, were awarded to recipients across the country.

Amid economic, health, and other impacts caused by the pandemic, students of color and students from low-income backgrounds have shown large declines in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must complete the FAFSA to unlock access to potential scholarships, grants and other types of assistance to help pay for college.

The grant will be used to help address barriers to college enrollment for approximately 8,000 MPS students who graduated from high school in 2020 or 2021. M3 efforts will also support a seamless transition to postsecondary education for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters.

“Thank you to NCAN and the Kresge Foundation for their recognition of this important need in cities like Milwaukee across the nation,” said Ericca Pollack, College and Career Center coordinator for MPS. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College are partners in the M3 (pronounced M-cubed) initiative with MPS.

“We are confident that with this partnership, we can increase the number of MPS graduates successfully enrolling in higher education,” Pollack said.

Goals for MPS Class of 2021 students include:

  • Increasing FAFSA completion
  • Continuing to address technology needs
  • Increasing summer transition programs, with a focus on students attending UWM and MATC

For the MPS Class of 2020, M3 is focusing on re-engaging graduates who may not have enrolled in college or technical school because of the pandemic, with a goal of encouraging enrollment for either Fall 2021 or Spring 2022.

A postcard will be sent to all MPS Class of 2020 graduates who did not enroll in a postsecondary institution this past year. These students and their families also will be invited to schedule appointments with MPS College and Career Center advisors who can help fill out college and scholarship applications and the FAFSA.

The same assistance will be offered to Class of 2021 graduates who do not enroll in a postsecondary option this fall.

The M3 partnership looks forward to supporting recent MPS graduates as they prepare for their future college and career plans.