Minnesota received an $852,449 WIA Incentive Grant based on WIA Adult, WIA Dislocated Worker, WIA Youth, Perkins, and Adult Basic Education program performance. Minnesota is focusing the 2005 WIA Grant Award on strengthening the foundational math skills of current and future workers through contextual learning. To enhance
these skills, the GWDC and its partner agencies, DEED, the Department of Education and MnSCU, developed a RFP
for the 2005 WIA Incentive Grant funds.
Approximately $750,000 of the grant will be available for funding up to three projects that will increase foundational math
skills of individuals who are below high school level competency. Local Workforce Investment Boards must be
the applicants for the grants, and each initiative must include at least one partner from each of the following entities:
school districts, higher education institutions, employers, local WIB’s and ABE providers.
Mathworks! is an engaging, distance learning collaboration between classes of middle and high school studens, their
teachers and a college faculty partner. These collaborative teams work together to introduce math topics with real-life
applicaiton developed with assistance of industry partners. Throughout the semester, college faculty members "join"
the high school math class via distance learning technology to assist in the instruction of real-world mathematics.
Mathworks! also provides cooperating K-12 teachers with the opportunity to meet online throughout the year with other
collaborating teachers to discuss ways to maximize student learning.
This program is currently being developed for a Spring 2009 launch. For more information please visit:
The Center for College Readiness
