Contact: George Althoff, Communications Director, 608-261-4504
MADISON – Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch joined Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Secretary Jay Risch today to unveil the College & Career Readiness Guide, a new resource designed to help Wisconsin’s K-12 students chart a course that will lead them to productive and rewarding careers as adults. The announcement was made at the Madison Regional Tournament of the Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl, held at the CUNA Mutual Group headquarters in Madison.
“The College & Career Readiness Guide is yet another valuable resource for Wisconsin K-12 students and their parents to plan ahead for college and a career,” Lt. Governor Kleefisch said. “Students need to start thinking early about their career paths, whether it’s a four-year degree, a two-year associate degree, a career school or a vocational training program. Planning ahead can help families keep the cost of a post-secondary education as affordable as possible.”
The guide was produced by staff members from DFI, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and the Department of Workforce Development. It is available as a printed product or in digital format, features grade-level specific checklists intended to help students begin the process of planning for a career, and includes information and resources from DFI’s “Look Forward” college affordability website (www.lookforwardwi.gov), the Department of Public Instruction, the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Student Aid Office and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Secretary Risch said creation of the guide is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to promote college affordability.
“In 2016, we created the position of college affordability specialist to complement the great work our Office of Financial Literacy has been doing for many years,” Risch said. “During that time, we have been working diligently to raise the awareness level of the importance of planning ahead for college and promote the importance of career planning, beginning as early as in middle school. The College & Career Readiness Guide is an extension of these efforts.”
DFI will distribute copies of the guide through its outreach to K-12 schools, its work with the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy, and its collaborative dealings with other financial literacy stakeholder groups. DFI also will have copies of the guide available at trade shows, educator conferences and other events. Copies of the guide may also be printed or downloaded from the Look Forward website, www.lookforwardwi.gov. For more information about the College & Career Readiness Guide, contact DFI at [email protected].
