MADISON, WI – The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education voted 6-0 tonight to accept One City Schools’ initial charter application and to invite the organization to submit a detailed proposal for consideration in fall 2028. One City Schools, Inc. operates One City Elementary School and One City Preparatory Academy as independent public charter schools authorized by the Universities of Wisconsin Office of Educational Opportunity.
“We serve the same children and families as MMSD, and we believe we are stronger together than apart,” said Kaleem Caire, Founder and CEO of One City Schools. “This vote is an invitation to build that sustainable partnership the right way: carefully, transparently, and in true
collaboration with the District.”
Over eleven years, One City has developed educational innovations, including its role as the first EL Education Network School in Dane County, its Project Read AI partnership, and its Science of Reading tutoring model, that have since scaled to benefit students across Madison, Wisconsin, and beyond. One City’s leaders view an MMSD public charter partnership as the next step in that work: a way to strengthen One City’s long-term sustainability while extending what the schools have proven to work to more of Madison’s children.
“This process gives our children, families, our staff, and the District real time to build something durable together,” Caire said. “Nothing changes for our Scholars this fall. We’re simply starting an intentional conversation about the future.”
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One City will work with MMSD leadership through the District’s established application process, as detailed in MMSD Board Policy 10000, ahead of a final Board vote expected in Spring 2027.
About One City Schools
One City Schools, Inc., a Madison, Wisconsin, nonprofit founded in 2014 by Kaleem Caire, operates One City Preschool (ages 3 months – 4 years) on Fisher Street in the City of Madison, as well asOne City Elementary School (4K – 5), and One City Preparatory Academy (grades 6 – 8) on the Pleasant T. Rowland Campus in Dane County,serving more than 400 children. One City’s mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures children and teens are on track to succeed in college- or career-preparatory programs from birth through high school graduation. For more information, visit www.onecityschools.org.
