Contact: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan has approved Wisconsin’s application to receive nearly $180 million through the federal Educations Jobs Fund to save and create education jobs.
“Wisconsin was one of the first states to submit its application for Education Jobs funding, which will allow us to act quickly to get additional high quality teachers in classrooms as a new school year begins,” Governor Doyle said. “I want to thank President Obama, Congressman Obey and other supporters in Congress for ensuring our students are receiving a high-quality education in these difficult national economic times.”
According to U.S. Department of Education, the Education Jobs funding will help Wisconsin keep thousands of teachers in classrooms this school year.
The Education Jobs Fund was passed by Congress on August 10, 2010 and aims to quickly disburse a total of $10 billion to local school districts across the country, many of which have been deeply impacted by the recession. The funds are to be used to retain, rehire and add new instructional employees. These funds will allow Wisconsin school districts that have laid off employees to hire them back and districts are being encouraged to use the funds without delay.
Governor Doyle has been a national leader in developing strategies to ensure that education does not deteriorate during the Great Recession. Governor Doyle has worked with the White House, House and Senate leadership, key Administration officials and fellow Governors to minimize the effect that the national recession has on Wisconsin schools and other local services, like public safety and health care.
Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has taken major steps to improve education in Wisconsin. In his first term, the Governor protected schools from a Republican-led State Legislature’s attempt to slash education funding by $400 million – a cut that would have devastated our schools and our students. The Governor increased funding for small class sizes, increased funding for special education, expanded school breakfast programs, expanded 4-year old kindergarten programs and invested in early childhood education. Governor Doyle also created the Wisconsin Covenant, a pathway to higher education for every hardworking Wisconsin student.
