Madison's Freedom Schools pilot highlights cultural literacy and family engagement

The Instruction Work Group heard a deep-dive presentation on Freedom Schools, a national literacy and civic-engagement model that MMSD piloted this summer. Assistant Superintendent Green and the Freedom Schools team said the program focused on integrated reading, cultural relevance, and family partnerships; Green told the board, "It is the only Freedom School in the state of Wisconsin."

Project director Darlene Campbell described how the site met required Children's Defense Fund components: morning Harambee gatherings, an integrated reading curriculum, family dinners and participation in the National Day of Social Action focused on mental health and wellness. Campbell told the board the program intentionally used a 10-to-1 CDF staffing ratio and three family dinners to build relationships, noting nearly every scholar showed family engagement at the final showcase. A student, Jayanna Burke, read an original poem to the board: "We are everything we want to be."

Presenters and board members discussed next steps: collecting and sharing fall/winter outcome data (attendance, assessment returns) and planning growth while maintaining fidelity. Green said the district will "be strategic about expansion" and consider a measured roll toward three permanent sites over time. Board members asked staff to return with concrete proposals for funding, staffing and measurable goals before committing to scale.