Wisconsin Fast Forward Teacher Training and Recruitment Grant

The Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) Teacher Training and Recruitment Grant for Non-profits is administered by the Office of Skills Development (OSD) within the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). As a state-funded initiative, WFF is designed to address critical workforce shortages by fostering innovative, locally driven workforce development strategies. The Teacher Training and Recruitment Grant specifically targets the pressing issue of teacher shortages across the state, particularly in low-income and urban school districts. This grant program represents a strategic response to declining numbers of education professionals and shallow applicant pools, especially in high-need subject areas and regions. This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that are registered 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) entities and are tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eligible applicants must also be registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and operate programs that actively recruit and prepare individuals to become teachers in Wisconsin's low-income or urban public and private schools. The eligible districts include Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, Green Bay, Racine, and Beloit, or schools listed on the federal Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) Directory. Programs may include coursework and support necessary for licensing teachers according to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) standards. Grants are awarded on a cost-reimbursement basis and are capped at $250,000 per award, with a total of $1,000,000 allocated under this funding cycle. Funded projects must incur costs between the contract start date of May 29, 2026, and no later than June 30, 2028. Grant recipients are responsible for submitting proper documentation for reimbursement and must adhere to detailed reporting requirements, including quarterly and final reports that demonstrate outcomes such as teacher licensure and placement in eligible districts. Awarded organizations must also demonstrate at least 24 months of operational history and comply with a due diligence checklist, confirming good standing with employment laws, tax compliance, and financial registration. Allowable uses of the grant include program implementation, recruitment (including marketing materials and event attendance), tuition and licensure fees, exam costs, instructional resources, and modest stipends (up to $2,500) for participants completing student teaching or internships. Administrative expenses are capped at 10%, while recruitment activities may not exceed 15% of the grant award. Ineligible costs include capital expenditures, real estate, and program activities already funded through other state, federal, or local sources. Applications must be submitted via the Submittable platform by 3:00 PM CST on March 19, 2026. Evaluation criteria emphasize project need, design, implementation strategy, impact, and capacity building. All applications will be scored out of a possible 102 points, and applicants must meet a minimum threshold of 50 points to be considered for funding. Final awards will be announced by May 15, 2026, with contracts anticipated to commence on May 29, 2026. Organizations must comply with all WFF contractual requirements, and failure to execute contracts or report outcomes as required may result in forfeiture of funds or ineligibility for future programs. To support application quality, applicants are encouraged to submit letters of commitment from school and community partners and refer to the published evaluation rubric. Technical assistance and clarifying questions can be directed to [email protected]. Full program details, including the announcement, rubric, and FAQ, are available through the Wisconsin Fast Forward website.