in partnership with:
Families want the full picture of how their child is doing in school. Learning and attendance can both help tell that story.
84% of Wisconsin parents think their kids are at or above grade level.*
But, only 31% of 4th graders are proficient in reading, and 42% in math.**
Milwaukee students are attending school more consistently.
The number of students missing 10% or more of the school year (about two days each month) decreased from:
58%
in 2022
to
46%
in 2025***
Let’s keep it going. Get tools to support your child’s learning and attendance.
Start the School Year Strong: Three Ways to Support Attendance and Learning
MAKE every day count.
Showing up every day is one of the most important ways to help your child succeed. Missing just two days of school each month can make it harder to keep up with reading and math.
Build the habit of good attendance from the early grades through high school.
Protip:
Regularly attending school increases reading and math skills, and supports positive relationships and mental health.
CONNECT with your child’s teacher.
Reach out at the start of the school year to introduce yourself and begin building a strong partnership.
Protip:
Teachers say the #1 way to know how your child is progressing is to be in regular contact with them. Use this Dear Teacher Letter to introduce your child's unique strengths and start the conversation about where your child stands.
Questions about contacting your child’s teacher? View FAQs.
ASK what your child should learn this year.
Take advantage of tutoring or summer programs offered by your school or community. Find options – both online and in-person – based on your child’s needs and interests.
Protip:
Ask for examples of what “grade level” work looks like and which specific skills are most important to support at home. Also ask how daily attendance can affect your child’s grade-level progress.
Explore your child's options.
Choosing a school is an important decision. Use City Forward Collective’s School Finder tool to explore schools near you with an easy-to-use visual guide that equally weighs student achievement and growth, helping families quickly assess school quality and compare options.
Protip:
Summer is a key time for school decisions. If you’re considering your options, start exploring early so you’re ready for the year ahead.
Do you have questions about how to support your child’s learning, attendance, and well-being?
Ask the new Learning Heroes Assistant , an AI-powered chatbot that gives you answers based on expert-vetted resources.
Why is it important to Go Beyond Grades?
Did you Know?
Almost 9 in 10 parents think their kids are at or above grade level†. But only 30% of 8th graders nationally demonstrate proficiency or above in math and reading.**
Given grade level standards are inconsistent across states, NAEP "proficiency/above" offers a national standard representing "solid academic performance for the given grade level" which is what we aspire our students to be able to do.
Featured Partner Resources
Explore tools to support attendance, learning and your child’s success.
Use this plan to track your child’s attendance and work with teachers to set appropriate goals.
Use this diagnostic resource to better understand school performance data, explore literacy metrics, and support strong reading paths for your child.
Get connected to tools, text updates, and advocacy information designed to help Milwaukee families effectively back their children.
Use this simple tool from Understood.org to spot learning and thinking differences
Find quick, direct access to active social channels, local community updates, and key network resources for Milwaukee families.
Sources:
*50CAN, State of Educational Opportunity in America: A Survey of 23,000 Parents, 2026
**2024 Nation’s Report Card | The National Assessment of Educational Progress NAEP
†B-flation: How Good Grades Can Sideline Parents, Gallup 2023
Given grade-level standards are inconsistent across states, NAEP “proficiency/above” offers a national standard representing “solid academic performance for the given grade level,” which is what we aspire our students to be able to do.