Wisconsin families, educators, school board members, district leaders, and community advocates will gather July 30-31 for the 10th Annual Wisconsin Public Education Network Summer Summit in Madison. This Summit provides opportunities to learn, plan, and strategize around themes of racial justice, educational equity, and unfair impacts of state-level disinvestment and privatization on students attending Wisconsin public schools.
Highlights of the two-day event include:
- An Organizing & Action Workshop followed by a Welcome Reception at the Goodman Community Center on July 30.
- Welcome remarks from Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jill Underly; U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona; Madison Superintendent and 2024 national Superintendent of the Year Dr. Joe Gothard; and many more.
- Featured speakers, including Jennifer Berkshire, coauthor of The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide And Defense Manual; Donald Cohen, Executive Director of In The Public Interest and author of The Privatization of Everything; Asma Elhuni, Lead Organizer, H.E.A.L. Together, Race Forward; Kevin Lawrence Henry, UW-Madison Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis; and more.
- More than 20 action-focused breakout sessions, workshops, and conversations with school leaders, educators, experts, organizers, elected officials, and experienced organizers on how to hold ourselves, our schools, and our leaders accountable for ensuring every child in every public school has the opportunity to thrive. Panels and presenters will cover the most pressing challenges facing our schools – from how to best support Wisconsin students, to privatization and school funding, local level organizing, legislative challenges, and much more. See the full schedule here.
The Summit is hosted by Madison Metropolitan School District and will be held at La Follette High School, which is in the final stages of a comprehensive, community-supported renovation made possible by the district’s 2020 referendum. Additional support is being provided by Madison Teachers, Inc. and the Madison Public Schools Foundation, all longtime partners of Wisconsin Public Education Network, a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition supporting strong public schools in Wisconsin. Tickets are just $40 (includes lunch from Melly Mell’s Soul Food Catering), and Madison Metropolitan School District staff may attend for free using a ticket sponsored by MMSD. All are welcome to join the free welcome reception from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Tues. July 30 at the Goodman Community Center, cohosted by our partners at Wisconsin Coalition for Community Schools.
Members of the press are invited to register for a free Press Pass to cover the event, which brings together a nonpartisan coalition of key players in Wisconsin public school advocacy, from superintendents and school board members to parents and community allies and beyond. Contact Tessa@WisconsinNetwork.org for a press kit or to make interview arrangements.
The Summit comes at a critical time as we enter a critical election and budget cycle, with a clear need to come together to learn & connect to support Wisconsin students and their public schools. All public education champions & supporters are invited to join this action-focused event. Learn more and register today at WisconsinNetwork.org/Summit.
