Leslie Lukas 9/2/25 Leslie Lukas 9/2/25

The Wisconsin Partnership Welcomes New State Director

The Wisconsin Partnership is proud to welcome Benjamin Porter as its first state director. Starting September 8, Porter will lead this statewide coalition of Higher Expectations, Milwaukee Succeeds, Achieve Brown County, and Building Our Future in advancing education equity through data-driven, community-led solutions.

Leslie Lukas 9/1/25 Leslie Lukas 9/1/25

Back to School is Here! A Look at Our Summer and What’s Ahead

As a new school year begins, we’re celebrating a busy summer of progress! From training Parent Grade Leads and supporting FAFSA completion in Racine and Kenosha, this month’s blog features just a few of the important initiatives our team took part in this summer.

Leslie Lukas 8/2/25 Leslie Lukas 8/2/25

FAST FAFSA Summer Outreach Continues in Racine and Kenosha

This summer, we’re connecting with recent grads across Racine and Kenosha to help them complete their FAFSA. The Financial Aid Support Team’s outreach will help us better understand the barriers to FAFSA completion—and how we can help more students access financial aid during the school year.

Leslie Lukas 7/8/25 Leslie Lukas 7/8/25

The Wisconsin Partnership Gathers to Strategize for Systems-Level Impact

Earlier this month, Higher Expectations joined fellow members of the Wisconsin Partnership for a two-day convening at Wingspread to align around systems-level strategies that support children and families across the state. Together with state and national partners, we explored how to drive equitable outcomes in early childhood, literacy, and beyond.
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Leslie Lukas 6/12/25 Leslie Lukas 6/12/25

Wisconsin Partnership Public Statement on 2025-27 Wisconsin State Budget

Leslie Lukas 4/30/25 Leslie Lukas 4/30/25

Parents Leading the Way for Early Literacy

Leslie Lukas 3/20/25 Leslie Lukas 3/20/25

Know Your Number: Tracking Our Community’s Growth

At Higher Expectations, we use data to measure progress, set goals, and drive change in Racine County. Our latest outcomes data shows where we’re making strides and where more support is needed. Explore our new data dashboards for the most up-to-date information, and check out our video walkthrough to learn how to navigate it. Together, we can turn data into impact and create opportunities for 14,222 individuals in our community.

Leslie Lukas 7/16/24 Leslie Lukas 7/16/24

Higher Expectations and Building Our Future Launches FAST FAFSA Initiative to Boost Financial Aid Applications in Racine and Kenosha

In 2023, over $4 billion in Pell Grants went unclaimed nationwide due to students not completing the FAFSA. In Wisconsin alone, an estimated 36% of high school graduates did not submit a FAFSA application, potentially leaving millions of dollars in financial aid on the table. Higher Expectations is excited to announce the launch of the FAST FAFSA initiative, aimed at increasing the completion rates of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) among high school seniors in Racine and Kenosha counties.