The Wisconsin Covenant became real to some MMSD students when Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle visited Whitehorse Middle School on July 17th to discuss the possibility with eighth grade students currently enrolled in summer school.

Doyle explained to the students about the Covenant, which ensures that if students do their part by maintaining a "B" average, are good citizens, and graduate from high school, then there will be a place for them in higher education in Wisconsin, with a financial aid package to help them attend a state post-secondary school.

"To tell every eighth grader in Wisconsin, you can go to college" is the goal of the Wisconsin Covenant, Doyle said.

The Wisconsin Covenant Pledge is available for students to sign in October of the eighth grade year through September of the freshman year. Doyle enthusiastically gave details about how the Covenant is "open to all eighth graders in Wisconsin" and "if you plan now and work very, very hard" the state promises to help find a school for every student fulfilling their pledge.

Details of the Wisconsin Covenant are part of state budget negotiations between Assembly Republicans and Senate Democrats, but nothing has been implemented at this time.

A former MMSD teacher at Cherokee and Whitehorse Middle Schools, the First Lady understands the importance of school and reading, and why it helps students to stay on track.

With the students gathered around her in the library, she conversed with them about what they were doing in their particular summer classes, and then talked about two books, "Speak" and "Guys Read and Guys Write" which she thought the students may find interesting. Doyle left these two books, and others, for the students.

Doyle also focused on why it was important for these students attending summer school classes to keep their minds fresh for the fall. She explained that strong readers have better grade point averages overall in high school and that by taking summer school classes, they are putting themselves ahead of their peers not attending summer classes.