Doyle Helps Students Sign Covenant
Lawmaker Questions Funding Of Program
Posted: 6:14 pm CDT May 10,2007Updated: 8:51 pm CDT May 10,2007
MADISON, Wis. -- The governor joined eighth-graders from across the state as they got their first chance to sign the Wisconsin Covenant, a program aimed at guaranteeing good students a spot in a state college.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportGov. Jim Doyle spent Thursday making several stops across the state to usher in the Wisconsin Covenant."From this day forward, if you sign the pledge, I want you to know that this pledge is a commitment to you. It's a covenant; its promise is both ways," Doyle said.Doyle said the proposal is a guarantee to eighth-graders that if they work hard in high school they will get a spot in a state college."For some of you, that's going to be easy. For others, it's going to be a lot harder," Doyle said.Eighth-graders gathered at Madison Area Technical College on Thursday were among the first to sign up."I think kids should start thinking about college earlier and earlier because it's getting harder to get a chance to get into college," said Katie Wertschnig, a student at Westfield Middle School.But some are skeptical of the idea and said that many questions about the Wisconsin Covenant remain unanswered."This is kind of a cruel little operation to be using on eighth-graders when you have them signing up and you have no idea what you are promising them," said Rep. Kitty Rhoades, a Republican from District 30.Rhoades said the governor's Covenant is an empty promise. She said the Doyle administration hasn't indicated how the program would be funded and that students could be left out to dry."They have no idea exactly what they've signed up for," Rhoades said. "All I've heard is that there will be a place for you -- not necessarily the school you wanted."Rhoades said the Doyle administration is telling her that specific details will be available on the Covenant in the next few days so it can be discussed as part of this budget."I don't want any eighth-grader, or any high schooler, to think, 'I can't get to college,'" Doyle said.Students who sign the Covenant are asked to maintain a B average throughout high school and to act as good citizens.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportGov. Jim Doyle spent Thursday making several stops across the state to usher in the Wisconsin Covenant."From this day forward, if you sign the pledge, I want you to know that this pledge is a commitment to you. It's a covenant; its promise is both ways," Doyle said.Doyle said the proposal is a guarantee to eighth-graders that if they work hard in high school they will get a spot in a state college."For some of you, that's going to be easy. For others, it's going to be a lot harder," Doyle said.Eighth-graders gathered at Madison Area Technical College on Thursday were among the first to sign up."I think kids should start thinking about college earlier and earlier because it's getting harder to get a chance to get into college," said Katie Wertschnig, a student at Westfield Middle School.But some are skeptical of the idea and said that many questions about the Wisconsin Covenant remain unanswered."This is kind of a cruel little operation to be using on eighth-graders when you have them signing up and you have no idea what you are promising them," said Rep. Kitty Rhoades, a Republican from District 30.Rhoades said the governor's Covenant is an empty promise. She said the Doyle administration hasn't indicated how the program would be funded and that students could be left out to dry."They have no idea exactly what they've signed up for," Rhoades said. "All I've heard is that there will be a place for you -- not necessarily the school you wanted."Rhoades said the Doyle administration is telling her that specific details will be available on the Covenant in the next few days so it can be discussed as part of this budget."I don't want any eighth-grader, or any high schooler, to think, 'I can't get to college,'" Doyle said.Students who sign the Covenant are asked to maintain a B average throughout high school and to act as good citizens. Previous Stories:
- September 6, 2006: Doyle Signs Covenant To Help Students Attain Higher Ed
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