Milwaukee Public Schools outlines progress, challenges in State of Our Schools address

Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius highlighted the district’s challenges and progress Thursday during the first “State of Our Schools” address. Cassellius, who has led MPS since March 2025, said she wanted to take the opportunity to address the community in order be transparent about where the district is at financially and academically. The event was held at Discovery World, a science and technology museum on the lakefront. “The next chapter of our work is stability first, excellence next,” Cassellus said. Understanding Wisconsin, Together. WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” newsletter keeps you connected to the state you love without feeling overwhelmed. No paywall. No agenda. No corporate filter. URL This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Email Subscribe Cassellus said districts are facing “a lack of confidence in public education, falling enrollment, chronic absenteeism” and a lack of funding. She said rebounding from the pandemic has “been incredibly difficult.” “But progress, even modest progress, matters because it shows us where things are working. And it tells us that when we give educators the right tools, the right kind of support, good professional development, and if we stay focused on a shared instructional vision, we can move in the right direction,” Cassellius continued. Cassellius’ 40-minute speech comes as the Department of Public Instruction is expected to release district report cards next week and as the school board is getting close to voting on a long-range facilities plan that will include closing and merging several schools. MPS is also about to submit its financial information to the state. The district’s overall budget deficit has grown to about $58 million, despite cuts in February to close what was then a $46 million gap. That deficit grew, in part, because of lower student enrollment this year. The district projected 60,277 students but has an enrollment of 58,088. Falling enrollment translates to a decline in state funding. Cassellius said as more families decide to attend schools outside of MPS, it is up to the school district to give children what they deserve so they can compete with private schools and open enrollment. “Decisions we make over the coming months and years will determine how quickly we are able to improve, grow and strengthen our district,” she said. “Do we let students sit in buildings that are 85, 90 or more than 100 years old, that are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter? Or do we invest in the future of our schools?” “Do we accept that a majority of our third graders are not reading at grade level, or do we invest the time and the training and the the resources to give our educators the very best curriculum available to get every student greeting at grade level?” she continued. Cassellius said the work is urgent — and uncomfortable. “It is not easy, and some will try to say it’s chaotic,” she said. “It can feel that way because we are doing so much so quickly, because our students cannot wait for us to get it ready.” Statewide test scores show Milwaukee Public Schools making gains with new literacy plan Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2026, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. Related Stories Milwaukee Public Schools face bank fraud scheme alongside dire financial challenges Statewide test scores show Milwaukee Public Schools making gains with new literacy plan Here are 5 things to watch for in Milwaukee Public Schools this year Federal investigation into Milwaukee Public Schools related to disciplinary decisions and race Milwaukee Schools superintendent addresses proposals to cuts positions, stagger pay increase