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MGT audit partners and district say literacy overhaul showing early gains; 102 instructional facilitators planned
Summary
MGT and Milwaukee Public Schools reported progress implementing recommendations from the district literacy audit: adoption of HMH materials, thousands of classroom walkthroughs and modeling days, improvements in teacher perception metrics, and plans to train and deploy 102 instructional facilitators next year.
The committee heard a progress update on the district’s partnership with MGT of America, which has been supporting implementation of the independent instructional and operational audit.
Sarah Anucci, vice president of MGT, summarized the partnership’s focus areas: K–5 literacy implementation (HMH Volume 3 adoption), strengthening professional development, and proactive planning to start next school year with higher fidelity. Anucci highlighted district supports including collaborative walkthroughs (667 reported by May), 190 HMH modeling days, and coordinated PD with HMH and district literacy coaches to provide in‑class modeling and side‑by‑side coaching.
Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Mims described teacher perception and walkthrough data as complementary indicators. She reported a marked increase in teachers’ self-reported comprehension of word recognition and showed walkthrough data suggesting rises in multi‑sensory activities for sound–symbol association and students’ demonstration of letter-sound understanding. Mims said these implementation measures are baseline data; the district plans to continue calibrating walkthrough tools and to use them as leading indicators of future student outcome improvements.
Administrators outlined an expanded coaching and operational model for FY27: 102 instructional facilitators will be trained beginning in July, supported by central-office content specialists and district coaches. The district will limit district-wide early-release days next year and reconfigure professional development to include a two-day literacy conference in August and monthly principal PD in July. Administrators emphasized improved coordination across offices and with unions and partners as critical to sustaining implementation gains.
Board members asked about leading indicators, target thresholds for implementation metrics, how those leading indicators map to student outcomes, and whether the district can set specific percent targets for fidelity measures once the walkthrough tool is calibrated. Administration replied that the district is still calibrating the tool and suggested a practical interim benchmark of roughly 80% for many measures while moving toward higher standards after calibration.
The committee did not take action. Administrators said more precise cohort and outcome reporting will be returned to the board on a regular schedule.
