Governor Doyle Welcomes Students Back to School and Encourages Ninth Graders to Sign the Wisconsin Covenant

For Immediate Release: September 4, 2007
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

Students Entering Ninth Grade Have Until September 14th to Sign the Pledge

MILWAUKEE - Governor Jim Doyle today welcomed students back to school and encouraged ninth graders at Vincent High School in Milwaukee to sign the Wisconsin Covenant - a promise to students that if they work hard in high school and make the grade, they will be assured a place in higher education, and a financial aid package based on their family's financial need.

Students entering ninth grade have until September 14, 2007 to sign the Wisconsin Covenant. Students starting eighth grade will begin signing the Covenant later this year.

"This is a promise between the state and our young people, that if they work hard, make the grade, and demonstrate a commitment to their own future, there is a path to a bright future waiting for them when they leave high school," Governor Doyle said. "For too long, too many of our young people have thought that college isn't for them. Through the Wisconsin Covenant, we're proving that college isn't just for the well off ... it's for anyone willing to work hard and commit themselves to their future. Not only will this promise bring higher education within reach to more of our students, it will make high school more meaningful, by arming our students with resources and motivation to succeed."

Students, parents, teachers and school administrators can download a copy of the Wisconsin Covenant from of the Wisconsin Covenant Web site - www.wisconsincovenant.wi.gov - where they can learn more about the program and efforts to support students while they are in high school.

Last week, Governor Doyle and school superintendents from across the state urged the Legislature to pass a budget that invests in the state's students, teachers, and schools. Now that school has begun, districts need to know what their budgets will be in order to plan for the coming school year.

Schools across the state are waiting to hear how much state aid they will receive over the next year. Under state law, the Department of Public Instruction must announce the amount each school district will receive on October 15th. In order to determine the exact amounts each district will receive, the state budget must be set several weeks prior to October 15th in order for the state aid calculations to be made. After this date, by state law, state aid amounts cannot be adjusted until the following year, even if a budget agreement is reached that provides more state aid to schools.

A new report from the State Budget Office shows that if a budget agreement is not reached, schools would lose approximately $80 million in state aid this year compared to the Governor's proposal for 2007-2008.

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