69ý

States State of the States

Higher Education at Forefront of Wisconsin Education Plan

By Jessica L. Tonn — February 06, 2007 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Gov. James E. Doyle unveiled an ambitious education agenda in his State of the State address Jan. 30, focusing on higher education and calling on lawmakers to “make Wisconsin a place where anyone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard … can afford to get an education.”

But lawmakers from both chambers who assembled to hear his speech will have to wait until the Democrat releases his budget later this month to learn how he plans to pay for it.

Gov. James E. Doyle

Central to his education plan, Gov. Doyle said, will be the Wisconsin Covenant, which he unveiled in last year’s address and which the state legislature later approved.

The program will offer free tuition at University of Wisconsin campuses to students who finish high school with a B average and strong conduct records, starting with high school freshmen this fall. The governor, who won re-election in November, pledged to include “a major increase” in financial aid in his fiscal 2008 budget to support the initiative.

“I don’t want any high school kid to think college isn’t for them, or that it’s only for rich people,” he said. “I want every boy and girl to know … with the Wisconsin Covenant, college is within your grasp; just reach for it.”

He also urged lawmakers to strengthen the college-readiness plan by adding a third year of mathematics and science to high school graduation requirements.

Among the other proposals in his upcoming budget, Mr. Doyle said, would be funds to reduce class sizes in grades K-3 and triple the state’s support for the school breakfast program.

Read a complete transcript of . Posted by Wisconsin’s . of the address is also available.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the February 07, 2007 edition of Education Week

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69ý
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

States Oklahoma Superintendent Prays for Trump in Video He's Requiring for 69ý
Two of the state's largest districts say they won't show the video, in which Superintendent Ryan Walters prays for the president-elect.
2 min read
Ryan Walters, Republican state superintendent candidate, speaks, June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
Ryan Walters, Republican state superintendent candidate, speaks, June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
States In Deep-Red Florida, Voters Reject Partisan School Board Races
Florida voters rejected a constitutional amendment to make school board races partisan.
2 min read
Image of a board room.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week (Images: DigitalVision Vectors; E+; iStock/Getty)
States Democrat Defeats a State 69ý Chief Candidate Who Called for Public Executions
A candidate's past calls for Democrats' executions thrust one of this year's four state superintendent races into the national spotlight.
3 min read
N.C. State Superintendent democratic candidate Mo Green speaks during a debate with fellow candidate Michele Morrow at the Heart Institute at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 24, 2024.
Mo Green, the Democratic candidate for schools chief in North Carolina, speaks during a debate with GOP candidate Michele Morrow at the Heart Institute at East Carolina University in Greenville on Sept. 24. Green defeated Morrow.
Scott Davis/The Daily Reflector via AP
States The Number of States That Require 69ý to Teach Cursive Is Growing
Here are the states that require schools to teach cursive handwriting.
1 min read
Photo of child practicing cursive writing.
iStock / Getty Images Plus