Keep Kids Learning

Investing in Education for Economic Success

Strong educational systems are the backbone of a thriving economy. Without investment in education, we face workforce shortages, higher business costs, and community decline. However, prioritizing education leads to business growth and community prosperity.

Forward Janesville is committed to economic success by supporting education through four key actions:

Building Strategic Partnerships
Expanding Work-Based Learning
Championing Lifelong Learning
Securing Accountable Funding

These actions are critical for Rock County’s competitiveness and future prosperity. The cost of doing nothing is far greater than an investment in education today. That is why we’re inviting you to participate in Keep Kids Learning, part of Forward Janesville’s key action of securing accountable funding for education.

Shar Hermanson, Forward Janesville's President and CEO, and Dave Holterman, from FJ's Board of Directors, recently discussed the topic on WCLO's Your Talk Show. Listen below.

Become a Keep Kids Learning Supporter

The goal of Keep Kids Learning is to communicate the importance of schools to our local community and help voters make informed decisions when they go to the ballot box on Nov. 5 to vote for the Janesville and Milton school referendums. We need to Keep Kids Learning because strong schools:

Prepare the future workforce
Help recruit and retain employees at local businesses
Help recruit and retain quality educators in our schools
Are major local employers
Support local businesses
Support GDP growth and the local economy
Contribute to higher property values
Keep crime rates low

Want to be a Keep Kids Learning Supporter? Download one of our Keep Kids Learning Advocate Toolkits and start using it. The toolkit gives you all you need—easy-to-use conversation starters, flyers, voting information, sample social media posts, and customizable scripts to help you engage your community effectively. This isn’t just another resource; it’s a way to ensure our kids have the opportunities they need for an education the delivers.

Have additional questions about Keep Kids Learning or Forward Janesville's focus on education? Reach out to Claire Gray, Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, at [email protected]. You can also watch our all-member call on the Keep Kids Learning initiative and Advocate Toolkit by clicking here or checking it out on Forward Janesville's YouTube channel.

Additional Resources

Want to know more about the School District of Janesville's referendum questions?

Want to know more about the School District of Milton's referendum question?

School funding is complex. To understand why school districts throughout Wisconsin are going to referendum with increasing frequency to fund education, watch this quick video from the Wisconsin Assocation of School Business Officials (WASBO).