| Milwaukeehome of the Packers and the | | | | request. |
| Cheeseheads. It is also home of some very | | | | |
| interesting programs within the Milwaukee | | | | Another program that Milwaukee Schools offer |
| Schools. Some of these programs include the | | | | is a variety of choices in types of schools: |
| TABS program (Truancy Abatement and Burglary | | | | |
| Suppression), the Six Trait Writing Model, | | | | 1.Neighborhood Schools |
| School Choice, and Chapter 220: the Voluntary | | | | |
| Student Transfer Program. | | | | 2.Neighborhood Specialty Schools |
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| The Six Trait Writing Model is a method used | | | | 3.Charter Schools |
| in Milwaukee Schools to teach writing. It was | | | | |
| developed to give Milwaukee Schools writing | | | | 4.Citywide Specialty Schools |
| teachers a uniform way to teach and evaluate | | | | |
| writing. The six traits are as follows: | | | | 5.Contracted Agency Schools |
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| Ideas: Refers to the content, or main theme. | | | | 6.Partnership Schools |
| Can be considered the heart of the message. | | | | |
| | | | 7.Small High Schools |
| Organization: The internal structure of the | | | | |
| writing (i.e. beginning, middle, end) | | | | 8.Other Schools |
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| Voice: The personal voice of the author comes | | | | A fourth program instituted by the Milwaukee |
| through. This gives the reader the sense that | | | | Schools is the TABS program. The Truancy and |
| a real person is speaking via the writing. | | | | Burglary Suppression program is in place to |
| | | | intervene with students who are considered |
| Word Choice: The use of precise, colorful, | | | | high-risk due to consistent absences. The |
| and rich words to communicate. | | | | TABS program began in Milwaukee Schools on |
| | | | November 29, 1993. The mission of TABS is to |
| Sentence Fluency: The writing flows together, | | | | intervene with students who are truant, |
| often with a rhythm or cadence. | | | | deterring them from involvement in criminal |
| | | | activities. This mission is accomplished |
| Conventions: Mechanical correctness, | | | | through a collaborative team approach. |
| including spelling, grammar, and punctuation. | | | | Members of the team include the students |
| | | | themselves, their parents, their Milwaukee |
| Teachers in Milwaukee Schools have found that | | | | School, law enforcement, and the Boys and |
| giving children specific guidelines and | | | | Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. This |
| expectations as they form a foundation of | | | | program is carried out by a dedicated group |
| skills creates much more fluid, coherent and | | | | of 10 professionals. The Milwaukee Police |
| creative writers. | | | | Department provides four officers who work in |
| | | | teams of two, combing the streets during the |
| Another program instituted by Milwaukee | | | | day, looking for truant students. The |
| Schools is Chapter 220, also known as the | | | | officers escort the students to one of two |
| Voluntary Student Transfer Program. This | | | | centers where the Milwaukee Schools provide |
| program aims to racially integrate Milwaukee | | | | two school liaisons who complete an initial |
| Schools within the district. Minority | | | | evaluation with the student and access |
| students (African Americans, Asians, | | | | current attendance information. Authorities |
| Hispanics, and Native Americans) may attend | | | | notify the students parents, and instruct |
| any of 23 suburban districts that participate | | | | them to come to the center to pick up their |
| in the program. The students may choose from | | | | child. TABS also employs a Milwaukee Schools |
| schools depending upon the transportation | | | | social worker who provides follow-up |
| region they live in. Available seats in the | | | | activities with habitual truants and their |
| suburban district they wish to attend are | | | | families. |
| also considered when approving the transfer | | | | |