WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE

Educational Opportunities

Legislative Education & Outreach

Legislative Education & Outreach Officer

Dr. Tammy Wehrle

Dr. Wehrle is the Senate's Civics Education Coordinator, overseeing the Senate Scholar Program as its Administrator and coordinating the Senate’s Page for a Day and Kids at the Capitol programs. She is a licensed educator who taught in the classroom for 20 years before coming to the Capitol. Dr. Wehrle has a passion for government, as well as working with young people to allow them the opportunity to learn as much as they can about the legislature and the legislative process. Learn more about her expertise in legislative education on the NCSL Staff Snapshot webpage and in her featured episode on the NCSL ‘Our American States’ podcast, A Lesson in Civics | OAS Episode 217 | NCSL Podcasts (simplecast.com).

Dr. Wehrle also serves as the Continuity of Operations (COOP) coordinator for the Senate. 

Phone: (608) 261-0533
Email: Tammy.Wehrle@legis.wisconsin.gov

2025 Scholar Weeks:  January 12-17  |  February 16-21  |  March 16-21

The Senate Scholar Program is an intensive week-long educational program offered by the Wisconsin State Senate. Admission to the program is highly competitive and is limited to 33 academically exceptional high school juniors and seniors from around Wisconsin. Each Senate Scholar receives a hands-on, up-close view of the Legislature’s role in our democracy. 

Senate Scholars gain experience in such diverse areas as policy development, constituent relations, and processing legislation by working with Senators, legislative staff and University of Wisconsin faculty.

Begin the process by downloading the Senate Scholar Application.

If you have any questions concerning the program or the application process, please contact Dr. Tammy Wehrle at (608) 261-0533 or email at tammy.wehrle@legis.wi.gov.  

AN OVERVIEW

CURRICULUM

Senate Scholars engage in a variety of experiences during their stay in the program. Typical activities may include attending floor debates in the Senate Chamber, committee hearings, seminars conducted by select individuals involved in the legislative process (lobbyists, reporters, legislative staff, Governor’s staff, etc.), and seminars by professors and students from the Robert M. LaFollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In addition, Senate Scholars will be required to engage in mock legislative activities, such as bill and amendment drafting, policy analysis, fiscal analysis, constituent communications, and lobbying. These activities will culminate in a mock legislative hearing at which Senate Scholars will provide and obtain testimony and then hold an executive session to vote a bill out of committee. Parents and relatives are welcome to attend this hearing.

At the close of the program, there will be an awards reception at which certificates will be given to the Senate Scholars. Parents and relatives are invited and encouraged to attend this event.

 

FUN ACTIVITIES

Although the rigorous curriculum is itself an enjoyable challenge, fun evening activities are also planned for each group of Senate Scholars. Typical activities may include movies, music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union, games, sporting and cultural events, and dining at local restaurants.

 

HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION

Each Senate Scholar is required to stay at the Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison. The rooms are non-smoking, and the cost is included in the tuition fee. The hotel is located two blocks from the State Capitol. The Senate Sergeant at Arms staff also stays at this hotel and, along with the Sergeant at Arms, is available to Senate Scholars 24 hours a day. It is the responsibility of each Senate Scholar to obtain transportation to Madison.

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

Although a significant level of supervision will be provided, each Senate Scholar is responsible for governing his or her own behavior. Each Senate Scholar is required to sign a code of conduct, which includes a promise not to consume alcoholic beverages or illegal substances during his or her participation in the program. Any individual found in violation of the code of conduct may be dismissed from the program without refund of tuition, and his or her parent or guardian will be required to arrange transportation home for the individual. In addition, the individual’s school and State Senator will be notified of the dismissal from the program.

ELIGIBILITY
The Senate Scholar Program is open to Wisconsin high school juniors and seniors aged 16-18. The program is also open to qualified individuals who are homeschooled. Each Senate Scholar must have outstanding academic qualifications and experiences that demonstrate an ability to perform tasks with a high degree of responsibility. Applicants may also be subject to additional requirements imposed by their high school.

Sunday
Registration and check-in at the Concourse Hotel, tour the State Capitol.

Monday
Overview of How a Bill Becomes a Law: from a constituent’s concern to a Wisconsin Act. Discuss the myths around the “Power of Politics.”

Topic Introduction. An expert will introduce and discuss the week’s public policy initiative.

Developing Legislation. Scholars discuss the ramifications of the week’s public policy initiative with Senate staff and a Legislative Reference Bureau attorney.

Media Roundtable. Discussion about their jobs, their role in the legislative process, and how they would approach a story regarding the week’s public policy initiative.

Constituent Relations. Meet with experienced Senate office staff to discuss serving constituents and the other roles they play in their positions.

Service Agency Roundtable. Meet with the leaders of the nonpartisan legislative service agencies and discuss their vital roles. The Legislative Audit Bureau, Legislative Council, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Legislative Reference Bureau, Legislative Technology Services Bureau, and Legislative Human Resources are in attendance.

Tuesday
Intern as a Messenger for Senate Floor Session. Wrap-up discussion at the end of the day concerning session.

Wednesday
How to Draft a Bill. Understanding the intended result, accomplishing that result through accurate writing, and avoiding unintended consequences. Presented by the Legislative Reference Bureau staff.

Legislator Drafting Role Play. Scholars mimic the real world when they present an idea to a Legislative Reference Bureau drafting attorney, the drafter writes the language, and the Senator makes sure the language reflects the intent.

Lunch at the Executive Residence.

Draft a Bill. Draft a bill implementing an idea for legislation to address the constituent concerns under discussion. Review specific issues and bill drafting strategies. Critique the drafts of hypothetical legislation and choose the one that best accomplishes the desired result. That draft will be introduced, distributed to Senate Scholars as bills, and scheduled for a mock committee hearing. Divide into groups according to position on the issues. Scholars may then draft amendments for introduction.

Finish Bill Drafts of Hypothetical Legislation. As a group, critique the drafts of hypothetical legislation and choose those that best accomplish the desired result. The drafts will be introduced, distributed to Senate Scholars as bills, and scheduled for a mock committee hearing. Divide into groups according to position on the issues.

Lobbyists Roundtable. Discussion about their jobs, their role in the legislative process, and how they would proceed with an idea for legislation addressing the week’s public policy initiative.

Thursday
Visit La Follette School of Public Policy on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Intern as a Messenger for Senate Floor Session or Committee Hearing. Wrap-up discussion at the end of the day concerning session.

Prepare for Friday’s committee hearing.

Friday
The Governor’s Role in the Legislative Process. Presented by the Governor or the Governor’s staff.

The Role of the Judiciary in State Government. Presented by a Supreme Court Justice or judicial staff.

Prepare Testimony for a Mock Committee Hearing. Scholars in the “for” group must prepare to testify in favor of the bill. Those in the “against” group must prepare to testify in opposition of the bill. Groups must anticipate the arguments of the other side, prepare questions to ask those who testify, and prepare responses to questions they are likely to receive.

Mock Committee Hearing. Parents and relatives are welcome to attend and participate. Committee hearing will be staffed by a Senate Committee Clerk.

Reception and Awards Ceremony. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. Program conclusion. Senate Parlor.

Program concludes and scholars are released from supervision.

Other Civics Education Programs

BADGER BOYS STATE

BADGER GIRLS STATE 

YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT 

WORLD AFFAIRS SEMINAR

WISCONSIN MOCK TRIAL

WISCONSIN “WE THE PEOPLE” 

UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM

WISCONSIN VFW

NATIONAL VFW

NATIONAL VFW VOICE OF DEMOCRACY ESSAY CONTEST

 

 

Wisconsin State Senators may sponsor Wisconsin students to serve for one day as a page in the State Capitol. Students must be in middle or high school and required to be 12 years of age or older.
It is the goal of the program for students to learn all they can about state government and how it functions. In addition to performing legislative duties, pages will be able to observe lawmakers, lobbyists, staff, and constituents that are all working together in the legislative process. Senate Pages will serve the members by assisting in the delivery of important information and messages to Senate offices.


The Page for a Day program will be offered throughout the session on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will not be available during the Senate Scholar program.


A typical day would include:
Pages will arrive at 8:30 AM for orientation with the Legislative Education and Outreach Officer. They will then take a tour of the building and work with the Sergeant at Arms’ staff. After lunch, pages will be given time to meet their Senator and may spend time working in their Senator’s office. The rest of the afternoon the page will work with the Sergeant at Arms’ office and staff. The day would end at 4:00 PM.
The starting time can be flexible, depending on the needs of the student.


Application Requirements:
1) Completed Application
2) Complete an essay explaining why you want to be a ‘Page for a Day’
3) Signed consent forms


For more information, please contact:

Dr. Tammy Wehrle
Legislative Education and Outreach Officer
Page for a Day Program
State Capitol, PO Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707-7882
Tammy.wehrle@legis.wi.gov

Wisconsin State Senators may sponsor Wisconsin students to take part in the KIDS at the Capitol program at the State Capitol. Kids, ages six through eleven, who desire to learn more about the Capitol and spend time learning about the legislative process are invited to apply. Our goal is to get kids excited about the legislative process and see it take place first hand.

The program will be offered throughout the session and the daily schedule will be developed based on the age and skill level of each participant.

The starting and endings time can be flexible, depending on the needs of the student

Application Requirements:
1) Completed Application
2) Signed consent forms

For more information, please contact: Dr. Tammy Wehrle
Legislative Education and Outreach Officer
KIDS at the Capitol Program
State Capitol, PO Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707-7882
Tammy.wehrle@legis.wi.gov