A partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and the UW–Madison School of Education was recently highlighted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The cross-institution effort — which also includes Alverno College — has been awarded a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand the number of mental health professionals serving MPS students.
In the article, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius emphasized the growing need for school-based mental health services. “We know that demand for student mental health services and support has increased exponentially since the pandemic, and schools are often the first place that students turn for help,” Cassellius told reporters on Feb. 11. “This new funding allows MPS to develop the district’s own school psychology professionals, providing them with firsthand experience and professional training to support our students’ academic, social and emotional well-being.”
As part of that initiative, graduate students from UW–Madison and Alverno will complete internships and practicums in Milwaukee schools, expanding the pipeline of school psychologists. The grant will allow MPS to add five new internship positions and create two part-time positions to enhance mentorship and support.