Governor Walker Announces $1.5 Million Available in Grants for TEACH Educational Technology Training for Teachers and Librarians

MADISON – Governor Scott Walker today announced Technology for EducationalAchievement (TEACH) grants are now available to eligible school districts and libraries as a way to enhance the role of information technology in student learning and achievement, and to enhance the role libraries and librarians play in support of education. Administered by theDepartment of Administration (DOA) in collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction(DPI), the Educational Technology Training Grants provide support for districts and libraries to attend, arrange, and administer training activities that build the information technology knowledge and capacity of teachers and librarians.

“We are pleased to announce the availability of additional funds to help ensure student success through the use of technology in the classroom,” Governor Walker said. “The educational technology training grants enhance the role of technology in schools and libraries through training opportunities. We have already awarded almost $4.5 million to help Wisconsin schools. With this additional funding, we will help even more. We encourage eligible libraries and school districts to apply before the May 4 deadline.”

On March 14, Governor Walker signed Act 142 into law which now enables libraries to apply for grant funding in educating librarians in the use of technology as a means to enhance the services they provide to patrons.

Since Governor Walker created the program in 2016, 587 grants to rural schools totaling nearly $4.5 million have been awarded.  Each year of grants has allowed district teachers to attend, arrange, and provide training activities to build the information technology knowledge and capacity of teachers.

Grants are available to school consortia of three or more eligible school districts. There is no maximum limit on the number of eligible school districts that can be part of a consortium applying to receive funds. Participating school districts must have 13 or fewer students per square mile. The amount of funding available to a school district is determined by the number of students within the district. Grants are also available to library consortia of three or more eligible public libraries or library branches. Eligibility is determined by and available to a public library or library branch that is located in a municipality with a population of 20,000 or less and meet specified criteria in relation to the library’s distance from urban areas.

The current biennial budget, 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 and 2017 Wisconsin Act 142, provided $1.5 million annually for the Educational Technology Training Grants as a part of the greater TEACH initiative. The allocated funds can be used for registration fees for online, blended, or face-to-face professional learning events focused on enhancing digital learning capacity; training to enhance the use of technology in the classroom; or specific programming aligned to district technology goals.

The Educational Technology Training Grants are annual awards. Any activities funded must occur or have occurred during the specified grant award period, July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. Unused funding will not be carried over to subsequent award periods.

Eligible school districts and libraries can apply for TEACH Educational Technology Training Grants online at the TEACH website. Grant applications must be submitted to DOA by 11:59 p.m. on May 4, 2018. Late applications will not be considered.

For more information about the grant requirement or reimbursement process.