State and Federal Projects and Partnerships
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) partners with federal funding programs and leading educational organizations to improve equity, develop innovative learning spaces, and provide research-based support for advanced students.
Javits Grants
The Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Grant is the only federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education that supports gifted students. MPS has received and participated in several Javits grants, which have funded scientific research on effective teaching methods, the creation of model programs, professional development for teachers, and the sharing of best practices. Our Javits grants help give advanced students in many MPS schools more equal opportunities to reach their full potential.
2e Milwaukee Project Javits Grant
Program Years: 2022–2025
More Information: 2e Milwaukee Project Final Report
The 2e Milwaukee Project was created to support twice-exceptional (2e) students—children who have special talents or show signs of being gifted in some areas, but who also face learning challenges in others. The project worked with schools to build a strong support system that uses culturally responsive, research-based practices. This helped schools:
- Better support the academic and social-emotional needs of 2e students
- Increase the number of students with special needs from underrepresented groups who are identified as gifted
- Provide more access to enrichment services for 2e students and their families both during and outside the school day
SURGE (Serving the UnderRepresented by Grouping Equitably)
Program Years: 2019–2024
More Information: SURGE Final Report | SURGE Online Handbook
SURGE helped identify more students for gifted and talented programs and improved their academic achievement by using a Response to Intervention (RtI) approach with cluster grouping and differentiated instruction. The project aimed to help educators use culturally responsive tools to recognize and support HA/HP students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It also worked to increase gifted identification and advanced achievement for underrepresented students and to expand access to high-quality STEM programs.
SEE US! (Scaling-up Expanding Excellence for Underrepresented Students)
Program Years: 2019–2023
More Information: SEE US! Final Report
SEE US! helped identify more students for gifted and talented programs and improved their academic achievement by using inquiry-based learning and differentiated instruction. The project aimed to help educators use culturally responsive tools to recognize and support HA/HP students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It also worked to increase gifted identification rates among African American student populations, improve rates of advanced achievement for underrepresented students, and expand access to high-quality Saturday camps.
Smart Spaces
Program Years: 2016–2020
More Information: Smart Spaces Final Report
Smart Spaces built on the strengths of students, families, schools, districts, communities, and the University of Wisconsin. It was designed to create learning spaces where academically advanced students from low-income backgrounds could grow their talents in challenging and creative ways. Smart Spaces supported more than 400 MPS middle school students using a series of three blended, online course modules. State-certified teachers created the curriculum, guided students on the online platform, and frequently met with students in person.
Expanding Excellence
Program Years: 2015–2020
More Information: Expanding Excellence Final Report
Wisconsin’s Expanding Excellence project aimed to increase the number of English learners that should have been identified as high ability/high potential in reading and mathematics. The project brought together the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), three partner school districts (Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine), the Wisconsin Response to Intervention (RtI) Center, the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, and several educational and community partners. It involved more than 500 students and over 100 staff members across 19 schools.
Optimal Identification Project
The goal of the Optimal Identification Project was to help schools improve how they identify gifted and talented students in four areas: who has access to services, how well identification procedures align with the services offered, how sensitive the system is to finding students who need support, and how much the identification process costs. A single system can rarely be the best in all four areas at once. For example, a low-cost system may miss more students, and increasing access may also increase the number of students identified. That’s why the project focused on “optimizing” identification—it was about finding the right balance.
Partnerships
- Center for Advanced Academics
- CESA #1
- Learn Deep Milwaukee
- Northwestern University Center for Talent Development (CTD)
- Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education (PAGE)
- STEAM Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin–Madison: Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER)
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM): Mathematical Sciences Department
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM): Planetarium
- Wisconsin Association for Talented & Gifted (WATG)
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
- Wisconsin Historical Society
More Information About Advanced Learners
MPS supports gifted/advanced learners with challenging learning opportunities to meet their needs and help them reach their full potential. Discover how we identify students, what support strategies we use, and more.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Germán Díaz, Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Email: diazga@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Phone: (414) 475-8223
Dr. Martha López, Gifted and Talented Instructional Coach
Email: lopezm2@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Phone: (414) 475-8401