M³ leaders showcase program model to national audience
College readiness is a focus for school district leaders around the nation, and in March, leaders from M3 were invited to present information about the partnership to a joint convening of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and AASA: The School Superintendents Association.
MPS Superintendent Keith Posley, MATC President Vicki Martin and UWM Associate Vice Chancellor Phyllis King presented to dozens of K-12 and two-year college leaders.
The presentation outlined key demographics about the Milwaukee area, including the educational attainment disparities that exist between the city of Milwaukee and the region as a whole. The leaders also discussed the reasons M3 was formed, its history, how the partnership is structured to represent each institution, key initiatives, challenges and successes.
Posley, Martin and King presented data released earlier this year that showed movement in MPS high school graduation rates and the rate of MPS graduates going on to college. They also discussed the work that lies ahead to ensure high school graduates succeed at the college level.
Many participants expressed an interest in seeing M3 in action, and in June, a team from Aiken County Public Schools in South Carolina will visit Milwaukee to do just that. The district’s superintendent and three additional representatives are scheduled to visit each M3 institution to see how the partnership is transforming the future of Milwaukee through education.