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There is a solid body of evidence to show that reduced class sizes in the lower primary grades can have long-lasting effects on student achievement. Studies such as the Lasting Benefits Study, Project STAR (Tennessee, 1990), the Educational Testing Service Study, Wisconsin’s Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE), and the WEAC class-size studies support what teachers have always known: small classes allow for better education.
Now, new findings reveal that students in Project STAR’s smaller classes continue to outperform their peers in larger classes well beyond the 3rd grade.
WEAC is a leading advocate for class size reduction efforts in Wisconsin. A powerful coalition of parents, administrators, elected officials, business leaders and educators has formed to support class size reduction efforts in early grades. WEAC will also seek to reduce class sizes in math, science and English/language arts (including literature and composition) classes beyond grades K-3 in the future.
The Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program began in the 1996-97 school year with 30 schools in 21 districts. SAGE served kindergarten through 3rd-grade students in 78 schools in 46 school districts in the 1999-2000 school year. The program focuses on schools where there is a high concentration of low-income pupils.
Participating districts take part in an extensive evaluation of the program conducted by the Center for Education Research, Analysis and Innovation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, districts agree to turn schools into "lighted schoolhouses" open for extended hours, to develop rigorous academic programs, and to establish and implement plans for staff development and accountability.
Evaluation of the first three years of the program showed that students in SAGE schools scored significantly higher than students in the comparison schools in reading, language arts, and mathematics.
WEAC led efforts in the Legislature to secure an additional $47 million to allow approximately 400 more schools to join in the 2000-01 school year. A new $3 million categorical aid program was also created to reimburse school districts for 20% of debt service costs related to the construction of new classrooms for the SAGE program.
The SAGE program, however, was established as a pilot program that is due to end in 2001. The law must be changed so that the state’s promise to fund SAGE becomes a permanent commitment.
If the law is made permanent, the existing five-year SAGE contracts will be renewable and the program will continue to benefit children beyond the 2001-2002 school year.
WEAC also supports efforts to reduce class size beyond kindergarten through 3rd grade. WEAC will introduce legislation to create class size standards in math, science and English/language arts (including literature and composition) classes in grades 6 through 12. This will continue the trend in Wisconsin to achieve academic success through reduced class sizes.
WEAC believes that excellence in the classroom can best be attained by small class size. Class-size maximums must be based on the type of students, subject area content, physical facilities, and other criteria. Smaller class sizes provide the opportunity for students to learn and teachers to teach at much higher levels.
Contact Bob Burke in the WEAC Government Relations Division at 800-362- 8034 ext. 254 or by e-mail at burkeb@weac.org with any reactions, comments or questions.
Posted June 6, 2000