By Eelisa Jones
Milwaukee Public School’s Three Choice Process enrollment will begin next month.
Parents and guardians will be able to submit their top three school choices for their children at school locations or online (for selected sites) from Feb. 2nd through Feb. 20th.
Milwaukee Public School (MPS) officials announced that parents and guardians have the best chance of enrolling their children in their first-choice schools if their applications are submitted by deadline. Online applications are available at mpsmke.com/enrollmps.
In addition to the traditional public school, many parents and guardians will have the option to enroll their children in charter or Montessori Schools.
Milwaukee student caretakers have the option of enrolling their children in traditional district public schools or charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded, but independently run.
They have greater flexibility in curricular adjustments, school culture, and organizational structure. Charter schools are exempt from the majority of state educational regulations.
In exchange for this increase of autonomy, charter schools must submit and maintain clear guidelines for academic excellence.
While charter schools are able to determine their maximum student capacity, they are required to accept all applicants without discrimination up to the site’s maximum capacity. Some charter schools may use a lottery process for enrollment.
The U.S. Department of Education has authorized $69.64 million of its Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP) grant to Wisconsin’s Department of Public Institution for distribution to charter schools throughout the state between the years of 2009 and 2015.
In the 2014-2015 school year, the state of Wisconsin provided $8,075 per pupil to MPS charter school operators.
Milwaukee student caretakers also have the opportunity to enroll their children in MPS schools that implement the Montessori Method of teaching.
These schools contain multiage groups which encourage peer learning and assisted choice in work activities.
The interactions between children of different ages allows younger classmates to learn from their elders. MPS currently oversees seven Montessori Schools.
These schools typically require its incoming students to have consecutive years of Montessori experience starting before K5.
The MPS website offers more in-depth information about their school options online at http://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us.
In its last meeting Dec. 18 of last year, Milwaukee Public School (MPS) School Board has approved the relocation of the Rufus King Middle Years Program to the renovated Malcolm X site at 2760 N. 1st St.
The Middle Years Program contains a specialized curriculum aimed at preparing students for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and Career-related Program.
MPS also approved additions to the Fernwood Montessori and Maryland Montessori Schools.
