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City Life

Education for children without homes is hard enough; COVID is making it worse

By Kate Morton | November 6, 2020

Access to quality education is at risk for housing-insecure children in Madison as their families face the economic blowback of COVID-19 and the end of an eviction moratorium looms.

Governor Evers announced a $30 million CARES Act fund on Sept. 3, which directs $25 million towards the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program. The next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a national eviction moratorium in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, come Dec. 31, families will be to pay their accumulated rent. If they are unable to do so, they will be evicted, putting children’s access to quality remote learning at risk.

City Life

College during COVID: UW undergrads share the experience of an unprecedented year

By Courtney Degen | October 30, 2020

In a semester that many have called “unprecedented,” students say they are simply “trying to cope” and “find normalcy” in their experiences on campus.

City Life

‘A service for the 99 percent’: New nonprofit aims to bridge academic access gaps through the pandemic

By Ayomi Wolff | October 8, 2020

In the wake of the COVID-19 public health crisis, a new Madison-based nonprofit startup is working to bridge the widening achievement gap due to the current global pandemic. On September 14, Pandemic Learning Tutors service, launched its tutoring service and has already begun recruiting and working with students in Dane county.

City Life

Private schools set to reopen after Supreme Court halts public health order

By Courtney Degen | September 13, 2020

Private schools across Dane County are planning to reopen their classrooms as early as Monday after the Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily blocked an order issued by Public Health Madison & Dane County that had barred in-person instruction for grades 3-12.

Education

Black leaders express joy, hope in new superintendent

By Andrea Gunn | July 31, 2020

A virtual reception hosted by local Black leaders to welcome Carlton Jenkins as the new superintendent of Madison schools was filled with overwhelming excitement and deep sense of hope, as Jenkins said his move to Madison to address educational disparities is his contribution to the movement inspired by the death of George Floyd.

Education

Black student-athletes successfully push for recognition & solidarity on Badger uniforms

By Tamia Fowlkes | July 29, 2020

Earlier this summer, a number of current and former Badger student-athletes shared their desire to alter the color of the university's "Crest W" on their athletic uniforms to display solidarity with Black students and other underrepresented groups on campus.

Education

Carlton Jenkins returns to Madison to head schools

By Tamia Fowlkes | July 10, 2020

In a press conference Friday, School Board President Gloria Reyes detailed the thoughtful and tedious nature of the decision, sharing that hiring a superintendent “is the most important decision a school board makes.” Noting the importance of community feedback and dialogue, Reyes emphasized that throughout the process board members maintained a confidence in Jenkins’ leadership and experience.

Education

Dr. Carol Kelley would bring “anti-racism agenda” as superintendent of Madison schools

By Pierre Doyle | July 3, 2020

“At times a system might feel like you have a knee on your neck, and you can’t breathe. Working collaboratively with the community it will not be an easy journey to have an anti-racism agenda, but I would say sign me up,” said Dr. Carol Kelley, a finalist for the MMSD superintendent position, at a community listening session this week.

Education

MMSD finalist Jenkins wants to address opportunity gap, family engagement and trust

By Mackenzie Krumme | July 1, 2020

Dr. Carlton Jenkins, a finalist for the Madison Metropolitan School District superintendent position, said it is time to move the district forward.

City Life

Community orgs partner to keep kids ‘Creative During Covid’

By Tamia Fowlkes | May 29, 2020

Tech nonprofit Maydm and Public Health Madison & Dane County are partnering to lead an initiative to encourage students to safely social distance. Through July 12, Creative During COVID will host biweekly social media challenges for students to engage and win prizes.