Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
11/13/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/13/2024 13:43
11/13 Gov. Evers, DWD Announce $1 Million in Teacher Training and Recruitment Grants
MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), today announced that $1 million in grants is available for the Teacher Training and Recruitment Grant program to train and recruit teachers where shortages are most prevalent in Wisconsin. "Our educators work every day to do what's best for our kids, and it's vital we continue to recruit and train talented workers in our education workforce and address our statewide teacher retention problem," said Gov. Evers. "This grant program will provide much-needed funding and bolster and strengthen our state's educator pipeline to help ensure our kids, our schools, and our workforce have the support and resources they need to be successful."
The grants, which cover two years of program costs, are available through DWD's Expanded Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program. Wisconsin nonprofit organizations can apply for up to $500,000 to recruit, train, and license teachers to meet the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's guidelines for serving qualifying school districts.
"All students in Wisconsin have the right to a top-notch education, and we're investing in training teachers so that they can deliver high-quality education to fuel our workforce of the future,"said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "Demographic shifts and other trends present challenges for some classrooms, and these grants help ensure that kids are not being left behind."
The WFF program has funded two rounds of awards in 2020 and 2022 that benefited 10 schools' efforts to train, recruit, and mentor educators.
Under the WFF program, the funds are only available to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations. Applications are due by 3 p.m. CST on Mon., Dec. 16, 2024. For additional information or to download an application, please consult the Grant Program Announcement and related grant program materials available here.
Having spent more than 30 years in public education himself, Gov. Evers has long supported and advocated for efforts to help recruit, retain , diversify, and bolster the state's education workforce. Most recently, in his 2024 State of the State address, Gov. Evers announced the new teacher apprenticeship pilot program to help address issues in turnover and retention while also bolstering and strengthening the state's educator pipeline by reducing barriers and encouraging more young people to enter the field. The apprenticeship model includes built-in mentorship during the program and will help new educators build networks of support and professional learning.