Success through equity

M³ is proud to have helped drive higher graduation rates, financial aid applications, college attainment, and now college-level success among Milwaukee students – yet equity gaps remain and stand in the way of student success. As an organization, we are committed to eliminating equity gaps and helping each and every student in Milwaukee reach their education goals.

Reducing gaps in education can help erase connected gaps in income, employment, health, housing, incarceration, and other factors that affect quality of life. More than 200 community members, business leaders, and employees of MPS, MATC, and UWM joined us 27 to discuss our individual and collective strategies to close these gaps. You can read more below or watch the full one-hour webinar online.

One strategy is our continued emphasis on completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Nationwide, 100,000 fewer high school seniors completed the this past fall compared to last year, according to the National College Attainment Network. A Hechinger Report analysis of Census Bureau data found that families with annual income below $75,000 are about three times as likely to say they canceled all plans to take college classes in fall compared to families with income above $100,000. M³ has driven higher FAFSA completion and will continue to work tirelessly to promote this key to unlocking college. As one component of our strategy, MPS College and Career Access Centers are open to help students and families complete the FAFSA virtually. Read more below about why the FAFSA is so important – and how you can help M³ efforts to promote it.

When we strengthen equity work in our organizations and as a partnership, we know we can positively shape the lives of the students we serve. “Supergraduates,” like Marcelo Martinez, who graduated from MPS, MATC, and UWM are enthusiastic about what is being offered to the students following in their footsteps. We invite you to read Marcelo’s story below and to stay engaged in this work that is transformational for the future of this community and this region.

Respectfully,

Keith P. Posley, Ed.D., Superintendent, MPS

Vicki Martin, Ph.D., President, MATC

Mark A. Mone, Ph.D., Chancellor, UWM