Gov. Jim Doyle announced his push for a $44 million increase in financial aid in next week's budget proposal.
Doyle said the financial-aid boost is necessary to fund the Wisconsin Covenant. The Covenant is a pledge between the state and students stipulating that if certain academic standards are met, the student is guaranteed a spot in a Wisconsin college and a financial-aid package.
This year's eighth-graders will be the first class to sign the Wisconsin Covenant.
""I don't want any high school kid to think college isn't for them, or that it's only for rich people,"" Doyle said in a statement. ""I want every student to know, with the Wisconsin Covenant, college is within their grasp.""
In his State of the State address last Tuesday, Doyle said a $225 million investment was necessary for the UW system to ""expand enrollment and produce more graduates.""
State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said he supports Doyle's education initiatives: "" The UW is the engine that drives the state's economy, and a great way to make sure our economy thrives is to provide financial aid to low-income students,"" he said in a statement.
