Federal Funding Restored for UW-Madison Teacher Residency Program in Milwaukee

The $3.3 million grant will allow the program to continue training special education teachers for Milwaukee Public Schools.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Congress has restored a $3.3 million federal grant that funds a UW-Madison teacher residency program supporting special education classrooms in Milwaukee Public Schools. The program, which was abruptly cut in 2025, pairs a 10-month on-the-job placement in MPS with a master's degree in special education, providing residents a living stipend. The residency was built to produce 36 licensed special education teachers over three cohorts, helping to address chronic staffing shortages in the district.

Why it matters

The restoration of this federal funding is crucial for Milwaukee Public Schools, which has faced persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining special education teachers. The residency program provides a pipeline of qualified educators committed to serving high-need schools, helping to stabilize staffing and improve educational outcomes for students with special needs.

The details

The five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grant was first awarded to UW-Madison in 2023, but was unexpectedly canceled by the U.S. Department of Education in 2025 as part of a broader pullback of similar grants. This sparked legal and political battles to restore the funding, which was ultimately included in a federal spending package signed into law in early 2026. With the $3.3 million reinstated, UW and MPS officials can now restart planned recruitment and continue placing new cohorts of special education teachers in schools with the greatest staffing needs.

  • The Teacher Quality Partnership grant was first awarded to UW-Madison in 2023.
  • The grant was canceled by the U.S. Department of Education in February 2025.
  • Congress restored the $3.3 million in funding as part of a federal spending package signed into law on February 3, 2026.

The players

UW-Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, which operates the teacher residency program in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools.

Milwaukee Public Schools

The largest school district in Wisconsin, which has faced chronic shortages of special education teachers and partners with UW-Madison on the residency program.

U.S. Department of Education

The federal agency that initially canceled the $3.3 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant awarded to UW-Madison.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin

The Wisconsin senator who helped write the bipartisan language to restore funding for the UW-Madison teacher residency program.

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What they’re saying

“When the program launched, MPS reported roughly 70 special education openings, officials told WPR. For teachers like Sarah Lind, a former resident who now works at Pulaski High School, the difference between staying and leaving came down to very practical support. She told reporters that the stipend and built-in mentorship were what allowed her to complete the program and remain in the district rather than burning out or moving on.”

— Sarah Lind, Former teacher resident, current teacher at Pulaski High School (WPR)

What’s next

With the federal funding restored, UW-Madison and Milwaukee Public Schools officials say they will restart planned recruitment efforts and continue placing new cohorts of special education teachers in schools with the greatest staffing needs.

The takeaway

This federal grant restoration is a critical lifeline for Milwaukee Public Schools, which has struggled to recruit and retain qualified special education teachers. The UW-Madison residency program provides a steady pipeline of educators committed to serving high-need schools, helping to stabilize staffing and improve educational outcomes for students with special needs.