Girls of Color partnership expands to 18 schools; program mixes social-emotional groups and academic supports

The committee received a report on the Milwaukee Public Schools Girls of Color (GOC) partnership program. Glenna Shirley Malone (Coordinator, Girls of Color) and site co-facilitator Alyssa Sanchez (school psychologist, Washington High School) presented the programmodel, growth and early outcomes.

MPS launched the initiative after reviewing national research on disproportionate discipline rates for Black girls and conducting local listening sessions. The GOC model requires participating schools to identify a three-person leadership team (including a building administrator), to complete a four-part professional-development series and to commit to a timeline of weekly or biweekly, school-led group sessions. Groups focus on community-building, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, goal setting and academic connection; facilitators may use book studies, vision-board activities and futures planning.

Program highlights presented to the committee included:
- Two cohorts launched in pilot years; a total of 18 active school sites reported this year with more than 350 girls of color participating across elementary, middle and high schools.
- A GOC handbook for site leadership teams and weekly group implementation guidance.
- Signature events such as an MPS Women and Girls in Sports Day and an annual Denim Day; Marshall High piloted a year-long "Women of Color in Literature" elective aligned to GOC programming.

Site-level facilitators reported mixed but encouraging early signals. Washington High facilitators said attendance was a barrier for some group members but that weekly reflections showed nearly half of participating students reported positive responses on sense of belonging, responsibility and academics. Directors praised the work and asked Malone to return with outcome data comparing participating students to schoolwide averages on attendance, behavior and academic metrics. Malone said the program will continue weekly groups, leadership-team coaching and signature events and that the district intended to expand reach and track outcomes.

Committee members commended the programand asked for a follow-up presentation with comparative outcome data for participating girls and participating sites.