On May 29, 2026, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved a 2026–27 budget that directs resources to classrooms and invests in educators. This budget is also designed to address the challenges posed by rising costs and a $46 million deficit. 

Placing every possible resource in classrooms is critical when only 9% of MPS fourth-grade students were reading at grade level according to the latest National Association of Educational Progress. Every MPS student is capable of great things, and the district is building systems to help them achieve their true potential. 

The approved budget is focused on Board-approved priorities: protecting resources for classrooms; keeping schools safe; investing in academic achievement; and restoring the fiscal health of the district. It includes these core items: 

• 159 more teaching positions and more paraprofessional positions to manage and reduce class sizes so all students learn to read through our literacy plan 
• Continued support for art, music, and physical education with an increase of seven teaching positions 
• Investments in our valued employees, including steps and lanes to reward longevity and education, as well as a 1.5% cost of living increase in July and another 1.13% increase in January, totaling 2.63% 
• Up to 40 hours of work each week for paraprofessionals and children’s health assistants, supporting employees in lower-paid positions 
• A unified team with dedicated staff focused on Black and Latino Male Achievement, Gender Identity and Inclusion, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and Restorative Practices. This new team will work with school-based teams to scale up these practices to a districtwide effort. 
• Reductions in nonclassroom administrative positions, including Central Services and assistant principal (AP) roles while maintaining a strong ratio of one assistant principal for every 350 students, with at least one AP in every standalone middle and high school 

The budget also reflects changes driven by community feedback since the initial proposal was shared: 

• More teaching positions in alternative schools 
• Additional art, music, and physical education positions where specific school-based needs were identified 
• Community school positions supported by our community recreation fund 
• Additional hours for paraprofessionals and children’s health assistants based on their interest, as well as a stipend for CHAs. Because positions are measured and reflected in full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, higher numbers will be seen for positions where hours have been added for these roles. 

This budget process has been challenging, and the identification of the $46 million deficit by auditors made it even more so. The deficit—along with rising costs for healthcare, nutrition, and transportation, and a lack of new general per-student aid from the state—meant hard decisions were necessary. The district continues to work with our valued employees whose positions were reduced so they can find a new position within Milwaukee Public Schools.   

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said, “Despite these challenges, I look ahead to the 2026–27 school year with optimism. We are placing our resources closest to our students because they desperately need all the support we can provide. As is the case every year, we will present a final budget in the fall once our enrollment and state aid are finalized.”  

The district also foresees challenges in preparing the 2027–28 budget as new additional revenue from the 2024 referendum winds down. District leaders are moving forward and taking steps that will make the next budget less challenging. Superintendent Cassellius will continue to advocate with school districts across the state for appropriate state funding. MPS remains committed to building academic achievement, ensuring schools are safe and welcoming, and operating as efficiently as possible.