WEAC Asks Governor to Spare Class Size Reduction Programs

The Wisconsin Education Association Council is asking Governor Thompson to spare from his veto pen two class size reduction programs for needy children.

“Elementary school is critical to a child’s future success,” WEAC President Terry Craney said. “Research has proven that smaller class sizes increase student achievement. It makes no sense to veto funding for programs that are proven successes.”

Rep. Scott Jensen (R-Waukesha) is asking the governor to veto a number of pro-public education items in the budget, including funding to expand SAGE and P-5.

The Student Achievement Guarantee in Education program, or SAGE, and the Preschool to Grade Five (P-5) program reduce class sizes in primary grades in low-income parts of Wisconsin.

SAGE is now operating in 30 schools in 21 districts. It provides state funding for schools in low-income areas to reduce class size in kindergarten through the third grade to 15 students. Participating schools say they have seen improvement in student achievement after only a short time.

The state budget passed by the Legislature this week would increase SAGE funding to every eligible school in all eligible districts. The P-5 program involves preschool to fifth grade pupils in districts with high concentrations of economically distressed and low-achieving students. It currently serves 39 elementary schools in Beloit, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine.

“Failure to expand these programs will come back to haunt the state in future years,” Craney said. “Reducing class size in the lower grades is a wise investment in a child’s future. SAGE and P-5 provide many children with a golden opportunity to succeed in school and the future.”

Following is a list of schools participating in SAGE and P-5.

Current SAGE Schools

• Adams Elementary-Adams
• Robinson Elementary-Beloit
• Parkview Elementary-Cudahy
• Gilman Elementary-Gilman
• Glidden Elementary-Glidden
• Jefferson Elementary-Green Bay
• Wilson Elementary-Janesville
• Durkee Elementary-Kenosha
• Hamilton Elementary-LaCrosse
• Lac du Flambeau Elementary-LDF
• Robinson Elementary-Laona
• Glendale Elementary-Madison
• Keshena Primary-Keshena
• River Heights Elementary-Menomonie
• Longfellow Elementary-Milwaukee
• Sherman Elementary-Milwaukee
• Maple Tree Elementary-Milwaukee
• Carleton Elementary-Milwaukee
• Fairview Elementary-Milwaukee
• Maryland Avenue-Milwaukee
• WI Conservatory of Life-Milwaukee
• Prentice School District-Prentice
• Siren Elementary-Siren
• South Shore Elementary-Port Wing
• Blaine Elementary-Superior
• Webster Elementary-Webster
• Cooper Elementary-Superior
• Franklin Elementary-LaCrosse
• Mountain Elementary-Mountain

Expanded SAGE Schools

• Antigo Kindergarten Center-Antigo
• Lincoln Elementary-Appleton
• Lake Superior Primary-Ashland
• South Elementary-Baraboo
• Bayfield Elementary-Bayfield
• Gebhardt Elementary-Black River Falls
• Bowler Elementary-Bowler
• Tiffany Creek Elementary-Boyceville
• Bruce Elementary-Bruce
• Clayton Elementary-Clayton
• Drummond Elementary-Drummond
• Longfellow Elementary-Eau Claire
• Glen Flora Elementary-Flambeau
• Chegwin Elementary-Fond du Lac
• Gilmanton Elementary-Gilmanton
• Viola Elementary-Kickapoo
• Ladysmith Elementary-Ladysmith
• Poplar Elementary-Maple
• West Side Elementary-Mauston
• Allen-Field Elementary-Milwaukee
• Forest Home Ave Elementary-Milwaukee
• Wisconsin Ave Elementary-Milwaukee
• Rock View Elementary-Necedah
• Minong Elementary-Northwood
• Roosevelt Elementary-Oshkosh
• Osseo Elementary-Osseo
• Knapp Elementary-Racine
• Jefferson Elementary-Sheboygan
• Maplewood Elementary-Sparta
• Stanley Elementary-Stanley
• Jefferson Elementary-Stevens Point
• Thorp Elementary-Thorp
• Lemonweir Elementary-Tomah
• White Rock Elementary-Waukesha
• Hawthorn Elementary-Wausau
• Wausaukee Elementary-Wausaukee
• Wauzeka Elementary-Wauzeka
• Lincoln Elementary-West Allis
• Winter Elementary-Winter

P-5 Schools

• Auer Ave Elementary-Milwaukee
• Clarke Street Elementary-Milwaukee
• Benjamin Franklin Elementary-Milwaukee
• Green Bay Ave Elementary-Milwaukee
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Elem.-Milwaukee
• Hopkins Street Elementary-Milwaukee
• Albert Kagel Elementary-Milwaukee
• Keefe Ave Elementary-Milwaukee
• Bryon Kilbourn Elementary-Milwaukee
• Dr. Martin Luther King Elem.-Milwaukee
• Robert LaFollette Elementary-Milwaukee
• Lee Elementary-Milwaukee
• Henry Palmer Elementary-Milwaukee
• Franklin Pierce Elementary-Milwaukee
• James Whitcomb Riley Elem.-Milwaukee
• Siefert Elementary-Milwaukee
• Westside Academy-Milwaukee
• Thirty-Seventh St. Elementary-Milwaukee
• Twenty-Seventh St. Elementary-Milwaukee
• Vieau Elementary-Milwaukee
• Phyllis Wheatley Elementary-Milwaukee
• Olympia Brown Elementary-Racine
• Goodland Elementary-Racine
• Janes Elementary-Racine
• Knapp Elementary-Racine
• Wadewitz Elementary-Racine
• Winslow Elementary-Racine
• Burdge Elementary-Beloit
• Hackett Elementary-Beloit
• McLenegan Elementary-Beloit
• Merrill Elementary-Beloit
• Wright Elementary-Beloit
• Bain Elementary-Kenosha
• Columbus Elementary-Kenosha
• Frank Elementary-Kenosha
• Jefferson Elementary-Kenosha
• Lincoln Elementary-Kenosha
• Curtis Strange Elementary-Kenosha
• Wilson Elementary-Kenosha

Posted October 3, 1997