OH+Research

//**__Topic__: The Integration of Milwaukee Public Schools __Interview Subject__: Jerry's Awesome Grandma**//

The NAACP began their push for the integration of Milwaukee Public Schools in 1965. After 11 years of legal battles, change was imminent. On January 19, 1976, John Reynolds and the US District court for the Eastern district of Wisconsin ruled that Milwaukee Public Schools were unconstitutionally segregated, and needed an immediate integration plan. MPS obliged, organizing community discussions. Also, advisory Commities helped MPS with the matter. Superintendent Lee R. McMurrin proposed a new student transfer policy. In April, that policy, Chapter 220 was passed. Chapter 220 helped aid MPS integration and diversity by allowing students to transfer to schools that are out of their districts. The rules were that a white student could transfer to any school with 60% or less majority enrollment, while a minority student could transfer to any school with 40% or less minority enrollment (Maple Tree School had 40% or less minority enrollment). For example, African Americans from Milwaukee could attend MPS suburban schools and whites in suburban schools could attend MPS schools in Milwaukee. In 1979, a desegregation agreement was reached: 75% of MPS students had to be educated in racially balanced schools: schools that were 25-60% African American (20-60% for high schools). These changes turned out to be extremely successful, as in years previous to 1976, only 14/158 Milwaukee Public Schools were integrated. By the end of the 1979-1980 school year, 79% of MPS students were attending racially balanced schools, exceeding the initial agreement. Surprisingly, MPS had quickly and peacefully attained the required amount of black staff and students.

"Impact of School Desegregation in Milwaukee Public Schools on Quality Education for Minorities... 15 Years Later." (Washington, D.C.?: The Commission, 1992); online facsimile at http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1100; Visited on: 5/26/2010 __**(once there click on view the document)**__

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rgQqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LSkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5228,1135142&dq ....Pages 69-72