THE MILWAUKEE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (MEP) WAS FORMED BY EDUCATORS AND CIVIC LEADERS WITH THEOVERARCHING GOAL TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN THROUGH BETTER TEACHER PREPARATION, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. AS THE MEP GREW, THE MISSION EXPANDED TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD IN MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MPS) IS PERFORMING AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL IN READING, WRITING, MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE THROUGH SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. THE MEP WILL SEEK TO HELP MPS NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES FACING LARGE URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING: 1) RAISING GRADUATION RATES;2) ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION; 3) IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING AND ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES; 4) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS; AND 5) IDENTIFYING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS GOALS, THE MEP SEEKS GRANTS AND FUNDING TO INCREASE RESOURCES FOR BETTER TEACHING AND LEARNING.