Schools That Can Milwaukee Receives a Surprise $1 Million, 7 day Challenge Grant

On April 26^th, Schools That Can Milwaukee (STCM) hosted a breakfast reception that called for business, community and education leaders to come together to improve Milwaukee’s schools.  The event included a surprise closing from Gus Ramirez, Executive Chairman of HUSCO International and STCM Board Member, to personally match every dollar donated by May 3, 2013 to STCM up to $1 million.  There were over 400 guests at the event and STCM has already received over $150,000 in donations from the first day of the challenge grant.

Founded in July of 2010, STCM is working to close the Milwaukee achievement gap.  Leading an unprecedented cross-sector collaboration of talented leaders from MPS, charter and choice schools serving predominantly low-income students, STCM is intensely pursuing three strategies:  1) Expand and Replicate Local High-Performing Schools; 2) Develop High-Potential Schools into High-Performing Schools; and 3) Recruit High-Performing School Networks & Leaders to Milwaukee.  No strategy alone is the answer, but the combination of the three is transformational. 

During the 2012-2013 school year, STCM is working with over 25 traditional MPS, charter and choice schools training and supporting over 80 school leaders to ensure student achievement for more than 10,000 Milwaukee students.  Through its three pathways, STCM will grow Milwaukee’s best schools, strategically support high potential schools and attract proven national providers to Milwaukee to increase the portfolio of high performing charter schools. 

With a robust model and track record of success, the STCM portfolio is growing.  During the 2013-2014 school year, STCM will partner with more than 30 schools and 150 school leaders to accelerate school growth. 

“Now is your opportunity to partner with us to make certain there are 20,000 students in high performing schools by 2020.  This is our initial goal as we work to transform the educational landscape of Milwaukee for all students,” said Kole Knueppel, STCM Co-Founder and Managing Director of School Partnerships.  “With your partnership, we can increase the STCM influence and serve over 13,000 students next school year.   Your investment is essential for STCM to increase our portfolio.  It will have significant impact in closing the Milwaukee achievement gap and if you donate by May 3^rd and your donation will be matched 100% by Gus Ramirez.” 

For more information on STCM, please visit www.STCMilwaukee.org.

Schools That Can (STC) is a national nonprofit membership organization of high-performing, predominantly low-income schools, collaborating and sharing best practices to grow quality seats of education across America. STC is dedicated to high-performing urban school development. 

Schools That Can Milwaukee (STCM) was launched in July 2010 by Abby Andrietsch, Executive Director, and Kole Knueppel, Managing Director of School Partnerships, with a vision to generate 20,000 students in high-performing urban Milwaukee schools by 2020 by (1) expanding and replicating local high-performing schools, (2) working with high-potential schools to develop them into high-performing schools and (3) recruiting high-performing school networks and leaders to Milwaukee. For more information on STCM, visit stcmilwaukee.org.