Perkins Funding in Danger - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Support MATC Students and Staff
WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON
Oppose the Elimination of Perkins Funding
and the Drastic Reduction of AEFL Funding

President Bush’s 2006 Federal budget completely eliminates funding for the Carl D. Perkins program. The Adult Education Family Literacy Act (AEFL) is reduced by 65%.

In 2004, over 20% of our students received support services and instruction through these funds. 32.3% of our graduates received services through the Perkins funds.

MATC’s Perkins and AEFL grants total over $3.8 million dollars and fund more than 40 Local 212 employees.

Write your Congressperson and United States Senators today to restore this funding!

The departments affected by these cuts include:

  • Academic Support
    • Communication Center
    • Computer Production Center
    • Distance Learning
    • Math Center
    • North - Academic Support Center
    • South - Academic Support Center
    • Science Center
    • Tutoring Services
    • West - Academic Support Center
    • Writing Center
  • Bi-lingual Services
  • Employment activities
  • Management Development Degree Support Services
  • Multicultural Affairs
  • Nontraditional Occupation Services
  • North Campus Student Support Services
  • Pre-Technical Education Services
  • South Campus Student Support Services
  • Special Needs – Hearing Impaired Program
  • Special Needs - Learning Center
  • Technical & Applied Sciences Division
  • Technical Diploma Plus - Printing
  • West Campus Student Support Services
  • Pre-College instruction at all 4 MATC campuses
  • 44 Community-Based Organizations for Adult Basic Education & Literacy
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • GED/HSED

ACTION:

STEP 1. Please contact your Senators and Representatives today. Tell them how important the Perkins support services are to the success of MATC’s students. For quick access, please hold down the control key and click on the link.

New security measures require the screening of all mail that is sent to the Congress and Administration, thus significantly slowing the process of delivery. Therefore, faxes, emails and phone calls are the preferred method of communications.

STEP 2. Copy one of the following sample letters for a quick and easy message:

Sample Letter #1:
“The fiscal year 2006 budget proposal strikes a major blow to career and technical education at Milwaukee Area Technical College by eliminating the Carl D. Perkins program. 32% of our graduates benefit from these services. Eliminating the Perkins program endangers the very success of students who have the greatest need for support services in order to complete their courses, graduate, transfer to a four-year college and/or find gainful employment. In addition, the drastic cuts to the Adult Education Family Literacy Act (AEFL) will be devastating to our most academically disadvantaged students. Please reject the proposed budget and support fully-funded Adult Education Family Literacy Act and Carl D. Perkins programs.”

Sample Letter #2:
"If passed, President Bush's 2006 budget proposal will cripple career and technical education at Milwaukee Area Technical College by eliminating the Carl D. Perkins program. Thirty-two percent of our graduates benefit from these services. Eliminating the Perkins program threatens our most vulnerable students, students who have the greatest need for support services in order to complete their courses, graduate, transfer to a four-year college or find gainful employment.

In addition, the drastic cuts to the Adult Education Family Literacy Act (AEFL) will devastate our most academically disadvantaged students. Simple fairness demands that Wisconsin and its leaders reject the proposed budget and accept nothing less than full funding of the Adult Education Family Literacy Act and the Carl D. Perkins programs. All our futures depend upon your doing so. "

Contact Information:

Congressman Paul Ryan: http://www.house.gov/ryan/email.htm

Congresswomen Gwen Moore: http://www.house.gov/gwenmoore/

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner: sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov.

Sen. Herb Kohl Via Contact Page: http://www.senate.gov/%7Ekohl/gen_contact.html Senator Kohl no longer has a separate email address.  All correspondence should be sent via the contact page.

Sen. Russ Feingold: russ_feingold@feingold.senate.gov

Thank you for your support.