Wisconsin offers guarantee of higher ed

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Interesting idea:</p>

<p>Wisconsin is rolling out the nation’s most expansive guarantee of higher education to students in hopes of raising college aspirations and improving preparedness.</p>

<p>The state’s 75,000 eighth-graders can sign the Wisconsin Covenant agreement starting May 10, promising to earn a B average, take courses to prepare for college and be good citizens.</p>

<p>In exchange, the state will guarantee a spot in one of its universities or technical colleges and a combination of work study, loans and scholarships to help low-income students pay their way.</p>

<p>The program is similar to those in Indiana, Oklahoma and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that educators say have been successful in keeping college affordable. All three target low-income students.</p>

<p>Wisconsin’s program is unique because all students can sign up and will be urged at a key age to start preparing themselves for higher education.</p>

<p>more here
<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/30/education.promise.ap/index.html[/url]”>http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/30/education.promise.ap/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2

<p>I think this is more PR than anything new. There is room somewhere in the state schools for every B grad who wants to go and the same for financial aid for the poor. It already all exists–just putting a name on it.</p>

3

<p>More local info and questions</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/04/06/0704050462.php[/url]”>http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/04/06/0704050462.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>It’s easy to see if these programs are delivering as advertised. Compare the percentage of students receiving need-based from these schools with other states’ schools where there is no such pledge. </p>

<p>(Some of the magic may be scraped away.)</p>