Madison College awarded $156K grant to expand rural teacher opportunities in Wisconsin

Madison College has received a $156,000 Wisconsin Technical College System Career Pathways Grant to launch a new education program to address teacher shortages in rural communities.

The grant will enable Madison College to expand its Education Pre-Major University Transfer Program to the Reedsburg campus, where education courses will be offered for the first time beginning in spring 2027.  

The initiative is designed to create a more accessible pathway for students in northern and rural regions to begin their education degrees locally before transferring to four-year institutions, said Dr. Penny Johnson, Madison College Education Department Chair.

“This is something we’ve worked toward for a long time,” Johnson said. “Rural school districts face unique challenges, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining teachers. In rural communities, students often must travel significant distances to access education programs. This pathway helps remove that barrier.”

The new program is part of a broader effort to strengthen the teacher pipeline in rural Wisconsin, where many school districts face ongoing staffing challenges. Communities such as Wisconsin Dells, Portage, Watertown and Fort Atkinson have similar needs, particularly in low-income or high-demand districts.

Lightcast data identifies the district’s rural areas, excluding Dane County, as a hotspot for K-12 teaching jobs. While the national average for comparable regions is 5,083 positions, these rural areas employ 5,804 educators. In some northern communities, school districts are among the largest employers, underscoring the critical role educators play in the local workforce.

Expanding access to education training in rural areas will help more students begin their college careers close to home, build foundational academic skills and seamlessly transfer into bachelor’s degree programs in education. Students also have the flexibility to enroll part-time, while still working.

The grant will also fund outreach and support initiatives designed to guide students through the transfer process, with visits to four-year transfer partners and enhanced academic advising tailored to education majors. Madison College transfer agreements include guaranteed admission to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, University of Wisconsin-Superior, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Edgewood College.

“Many students aren’t aware of the pre-major option or how to navigate the transfer process, which can be complex,” Johnson said. “This grant allows us to provide more direct support and help students make informed decisions about their future.”

Madison College Dean of Regional Campuses, Shawna Marquardt, said the initiative builds on strong partnerships between Madison College’s regional campuses and local K-12 school districts.

“Our branch campuses already have deep connections within their communities,” Marquardt said. “This grant strengthens those relationships and helps us respond to real needs. That’s what Madison College is about—seeing challenges and asking how we can help.”

Learn more on the Madison College Get Started and Madison College Pre-Education University Transfer web pages.