additional schools

The statutes (s.118.43(2)(e)) provide that if one or more eligible districts chooses not to participate in the SAGE program, a district, other than MPS, that has already entered into an achievement guarantee contract may apply to the department to enter into such a contract on behalf of one additional school 1. If some of the new districts identified as eligible to participate in SAGE starting in 1998-99 do not submit statements of intent by the end of January 1998, districts that already have contracts with the department will be notified of the opportunity to apply for a second school. It is anticipated:

• such notice will be provided approximately February 1, 1998,
• current SAGE districts will be asked to provide information about the additional schools for which they wish to develop contracts by February 20,
• contracts for such schools will be submitted to DPI by April 17 or two months after the forms are received by the schools.

The department is required to make a determination regarding the participation of any such additional schools based on the number of low income K-1 pupils in those schools and the balance of rural and urban districts currently in the program. At this time the department anticipates finalizing any contracts for any additional schools in the current SAGE districts by the end of June, 1998.

2. Number of schools per district - A new interpretation of the law recently provided by staff members from the department of administration and legislative reference bureau has allowed the department to approve contracts for up to 4 schools in certain districts. It has been determined that any eligible district may have up to two schools start the program in 1998-99, in addition to the one or two schools which started in 1996-97.