MATC Receives U.S. Department of Education Grant
$385,686 to fund GED program for migrant workers and their children

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (July 10, 2009) – Milwaukee Area Technical College is one of 16 recipients of a U.S. Department of Education grant to help migrant students obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma and continue on to work or post-secondary education.

The grants were awarded under the High School Equivalency Program (HEP), which supports educational programs targeted to migratory or seasonal workers or their children who are 16 and not currently enrolled in school. MATC, the lone recipient from Wisconsin, received a $385,686 grant to recruit and enroll migrant students in a GED program. In addition to the educational component, MATC staff and instructors will provide support services, financial aid information, weekly stipends and exposure to cultural events. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared to begin post-secondary education, enter the military, or obtain employment. The program will be offered at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee and Oak Creek campuses.

A 2008 Wisconsin Bureau of Migrant, Refugee and Labor Services report shared there were 3,780 migrant workers in Wisconsin and 73 migrant camps were located in southeastern Wisconsin. The Center on Wisconsin Strategy revealed that the average hourly wage for Wisconsin workers without a high school diploma was $11.07, compared to $14.23 an hour for those with a GED or high school diploma. By both state and federal standards, those without a GED are at poverty wage levels.

For more information on the U.S. Department of Education grants and a complete list of recipients, please see http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07092009a.html. Details about MATC’s services to migrant workers is accessible at http://matc.edu/student/offerings/precollege/migrant.html.