Angela Jimenez, a Parent Grade Lead at Knapp Elementary, helps connect families to what’s happening in their children’s classrooms. Through Lunch & Learn sessions, she and other parent leaders create space for families to build relationships with teachers, understand classroom goals, and support learning at home. As participation has nearly tripled since the program’s pilot, it is clear that when families are meaningfully engaged, they do not just show up, they lead, connect, and help students thrive.

A 2025 year-end reflection from Executive Director Elizabeth Erickson on growth, leadership, and the power of collective action in Racine County.

October is nearing it’s end, and it’s time for high school seniors and those interested in pursuing postsecondary education to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Higher Expectations is committed, in partnership with Building Our Future, to advance FAFSA completion rates in our region.

Our team joined more than 500 leaders in Atlanta for the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Convening. We were proud to share how Racine County is innovating — from building sustainable FAFSA support to empowering families, driving policy change, and strengthening data practices. Read more about our presentations and the lessons we’re bringing home.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.