Wisconsin’s $8.5M Workforce Development Agenda Targets Technical Colleges

The agenda for the upcoming legislative session unveiled by Gov. Scott Walker promotes investment in technical schools to provide skill development and quickly fill critical needs of employers. The governor outlined a package of eight workforce development bills, which include funding for youth apprenticeships, tuition reimbursement for apprentices and employers, technical education incentive grants, and scholarships for students to attend technical schools. Much of the new investment would augment funding for existing programs.

Gov. Walker’s plan invests $8.5 million in new state funds and would secure another $14 million in federal funds for vocational rehabilitation programs. Some of the bills are outlined below.

• LRB 2949 – Increases funding for youth apprenticeship by $500,000 annually to meet demand. Under the program, enrollees receive on the job training and technical, college-level instruction at local high schools.
• LRB 2976 – Provides funding to reimburse students or employers 25 percent of the apprenticeship tuition and fee cost of up to $1,000 per apprentice. The program provides on the job training with classroom instruction to meet worker and employer needs.
• LRB 3115 – Invests in an incentive program geared toward school districts for technical education. Eligible school districts would establish programs to encourage students to earn industry recognized certificates in high-need occupations before graduating from high school.
• LRB 3026 – Funds new scholarships to reward students who are top of their class for technical education to use at state technical schools.

Read the press release: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/newsroom/press-release/working-wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-announces-workforce-development.