Educators Tell Legislators: Keep the Commitment & Fully Fund SAGE

About 70 teachers, principals and parents made a powerful showing in Madison Thursday in support of the SAGE class reduction program.

The educators and parents explained to legislators -- one-on-one in their offices -- how amazingly successful the program has been in helping teachers reach young children who need the most attention.

They urged revision of Governor Thompson's state budget proposal, which reneges on an earlier promise of increased funding for the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education program.

SAGE provides funding to reduce class size in lower grades for schools with high concentrations of low-income students. This year, the program is operating in the kindergarten and first grade in 30 schools in 21 districts. SAGE was scheduled to expand to 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms over the next two years, but the governor is proposing to freeze the program.

Teachers brought student work samples, test results and other evidence that SAGE is having dramatic effects on student achievement.

Right off the bat, they got resounding response from two legislators -- Rep. Robert Jauch of Poplar and Sen. Timothy Weeden of Beloit -- who said they would not vote for a state budget unless it contains full funding for the SAGE program.

"I have never seen a program that works better, is more exciting, or has created as much enthusiasm in the education community as SAGE," Jauch said. "Teachers are finally able to teach kids rather than just managing classrooms, and finally able to succeed rather than watching kids fall further behind."

Weeden, the author of the program, said SAGE "probably is the most important thing I've done since I've been here. We need to move ahead. We can't stop the program here.

"This is a program we know works. These are the kinds of programs we ought to spend money on."

Photos: Sheila Briggs, a teacher at Glendale Elementary School in Madison, discusses the successes of SAGE with Madison television reporter Patti Lowe (Channel 27). Below, Deborah McCann, a kindergarten teacher at Robinson Elementary School in Beloit, and Robinson Principal Thomas Teteak

Posted May 8, 1997