Chippewa Falls, Wis. (October 7, 2026) – Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 10 (CESA 10) announced today that it has secured a $749,400 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program. Supporting a total project budget of $861,810, the funding will modernize end-of-life classroom technology, establish a unified regional distance learning network, and expand educational access for 30 school districts in northern and central Wisconsin.
The project addresses acute rural challenges, including worsening teacher shortages, geographic isolation, and severe cuts to specialized course offerings. By consolidating four independent legacy distance-learning networks into a single regional system, CESA 10 enables 30 school districts to pool resources, coordinate master schedules, and share certified teaching talent across county lines.
In rural Wisconsin, distance learning isn’t a luxury - it is a vital tool to ensure our students get an equal shot at success," said Jamie Kampf, CESA 10 Distance Learning Operations Manager. "Securing this USDA DLT grant allows us to replace failing infrastructure and level the playing field for over 14,000 students across our member districts. This funding will reduce geographic barriers and open doors to pathways."
The federal investment will fund interactive video conferencing classroom systems, mobile carts, high-performance video devices, virtual reality headsets, and centralized platform licenses. These resources directly support 14,445 rural students and 1,914 educators across 12 counties: Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Marathon, Rusk, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson emphasized the broader community impact of the investment. “When we invest in education and support career development for teachers and students alike, that investment stretches far beyond equipment and technology that will be needed for this endeavor,” said Iverson. “This investment will go much further to help enrich and strengthen the lives of people who will then be able to make a difference in the lives of others across rural Wisconsin.” across our region and provide meaningful support to superintendents at every stage of their careers.”
Participating School Districts
The investment will impact 30 school districts, including: Abbotsford, Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan, Athens, Auburndale, Augusta, Blair-Taylor, Bloomer, Bruce, Colby, Colfax, Edgar, Elk Mound, Flambeau (Tony), Gilmanton, Granton, Greenwood, Ladysmith, Lake Holcombe, Loyal, Marathon, Mondovi, Neillsville, New Auburn, Osseo-Fairchild, Owen-Withee, Regis Catholic, Spencer Spooner, Thorp, and Tomorrow River.
The upgraded infrastructure will allow participating schools to maintain four-year curriculum sequences, fulfill new state requirements—such as the Wisconsin Act 60 personal finance graduation mandate—and provide Career and Technical Education (CTE) tied directly to regional workforce demands.
To learn more about CESA 10’s Teaching & Learning with Technology services, visit https://www.cesa10.k12.wi.us/page/teaching-learning-with-technology.