On November 20 and 21, the MMSD continued to address the disproportional number of students of color in Special Education through its partnership with The National Institute for Urban School Improvement (NIUSI). Participating in this partnership gives schools in Madison a unique and exceptional opportunity to join in a community of learning with colleagues, institutions of higher education, and the Department of Education.

During NIUSI's two day visit to Madison, NUISI staff met with MMSD leaders and the elementary school principals of the ten MMSD schools that were selected to be NIUSI schools; they also made site visits to these ten schools.

The ten MMSD elementary schools that were selected are: Chavez, Emerson, Gompers, Kennedy, Leopold, Lincoln, Lowell, Midvale, Randall and Thoreau.

The goal of the MMSD NIUSI project is to "eliminate race and culture as predictors of success in MMSD by using research-based racially and culturally responsive practices to support Engagement, Learning and Relationships."

The NIUSI project is designed to foster individual growth, advance urban school research, and collaboratively develop a national model of best practices.

Jack Jorgensen, MMSD Educational Services, met with representatives of NIUSI during their two day visit to Madison and MMSD schools. Among the NIUSI visitors were Elizabeth Kozleski of Arizona State University (center) and Suzanne Arnold from the University of Colorado, Denver. The goal of the MMSD NIUSI project is to eliminate race and culture as predictors of success in the MMSD.