WiRSA (Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance) - Strong Schools - Strong Communities
OPPORTUNITY
Wisconsin Fast Forward Technical Education Equipment grant now available
Up to $1 million in funding is available to Wisconsin school districts through the Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) Expanded grant program. This opportunity from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is available to help school districts prepare high school students in technical fields to ensure Wisconsin has a skilled workforce into the future.
Wisconsin Fast Forward Technical Education Equipment grants train high school students in advanced manufacturing or construction fields. At least one-third of grant funds awarded in a two-year budget cycle are provided to school districts that are eligible for sparsity aid or consortia that include at least one eligible school district. Grants reimburse school districts for construction, renovation, or improvement of district facilities, or to acquire tools and equipment used to train students in construction-related and advanced manufacturing fields.
Find additional information in the grant program announcement and application instructions available on the Wisconsin Fast Forward webpage.
Applications through the Submittable online application system. are due by 3 p.m. Central Time on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026.
Sincerely,
John Roos
Director, Office of Skills Development
Department of Workforce Development
(608) 733-3918
The National Rural Education Association recently announced
a partnership with Level All to expand access to college, career, and life-readiness support for rural communities.
Through this partnership, districts across Wisconsin can use Level All at no cost. The platform gives students guided support with career exploration, postsecondary planning, financial literacy, and essential life skills, while providing educators with ready-to-use resources and visibility into student progress.
Level All also fits into existing digital workflows. The Google Classroom Add-on is available now, and a Canvas Add-on is coming this fall, allowing educators to bring Level All resources and activities into the learning environments they already use.
They are hosting a series of 30-minute webinars to introduce the platform and show how rural districts can use the platform without adopting a new curriculum or creating a significant administrative burden.
View webinar dates and register: Webinar Series
Free resources for all School Counselors
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a dedicated time to share resources, promote prevention strategies, and raise awareness about mental health.
Celebrate International Friendship Day with this Free Animation Resource
Here is a link to the Fight Child Abuse YouTube page
Addressing and Assessing Rural Youth Mental Health via School-Based Partnerships
The Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance aims to partner with MCW and Cartwheel, a WI-licensed medical practice, to help rural schools ASSESS and ADDRESS mental health needs in their communities. We would partner with 50 rural schools enrolling 15,000 students in grades K-12 to do the following: CHECK IT OUT!
(Grant Funded Support) Telehealth School-Based Mental Health Support
Cartwheel is a telehealth school-based mental health provider that partners directly with school districts to offer therapy and psychiatry services for PreK-12 students. Cartwheel accepts all insurance including Medicaid, serves students with no waitlist, and assigns a dedicated Program Manager to every district they work with. They currently partner with over 350 districts across 15 states, including 12 right here in Wisconsin.
As a WiRSA member district, you have a unique opportunity to learn more about how Cartwheel's model could support your students' mental health needs and how the funding works. To schedule time to learn more, reach out to Polly Thomas at Cartwheel via email at polly.thomas@cartwheelcare.org or schedule time on her calendar here.
Our Cartwheel partners continue to look for additional funding to support this need.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jeff
Through the George IV Recovery Fund, schools in Wisconsin are able to obtain free Narcan kits for their building.
School districts and staff are advised to reference this DPI FAQ on Stocking and Administering Opioid Antagonists in Wisconsin Schools when obtaining these kits. School districts should also review Wisconsin’s pupil medication law, Wis. Stat. § 118.29, (2g) and (6).
DPI suggests that the best practice would be to train individuals most likely to respond to these types of emergency situations. On the Opioid Antagonist Training Resources website, DPI has posted links specific to the intranasal and intramuscular injection of opioid antagonists. (DPI does not endorse or sponsor this product)
There are several training options available. To receive your Naloxone Overdose Resource Kit (s) for your school district, please email George Moore at: gemoore3@att.net
(DPI does not endorse or sponsor this product)