Step 1
Determine eligibility: All K-3 schools regardless of poverty rate may apply, except for current SAGE schools, P-5 schools and districts that have twice declined to participate.

Districts can look at a DPI list to see where their schools fall on the funding priority list. A preliminary priority list was sent February 2. An update will be sent on March 1.

Step 2
Apply for the program by providing the Department of Public Instruction with written notice of interest. The Department of Public Instruction will supply a form. The notice must include:

• The name of the school or schools for which the district intends to develop a SAGE contract
• Information on the K-1 enrollment and current K-1 low income count
• An estimate of the number of children who will be enrolled in grades K-1 in each school
• An estimate of the number of low-income kindergarten and first-grade students expected in the next school year.

Step 3
Fill out an "Achievement Guarantee Contract." The Department of Public Instruction will send contract materials to interested districts. Districts must have signed five-year "achievement guarantee" contracts in order to participate in SAGE. The contracts must include information about:

• The district's objectives for student achievement and the means to evaluate success in those objectives
• Information about district educational goals
• Information about district staff development programs intended to help SAGE teachers improve student achievement.
• A description of the school's collaborative decision-making process.

Step 4
Submit the contract. Send the signed contract to DPI by April 1. Supplements and amendments may be sent after April 1, and final performance objectives will not be due until October.

Step 5
Contract approval. DPI will send out contract approval letters to schools assured of funding by May 1. Final rules for the program will be published June 1.

The Department of Public Instruction will conduct contract development workshops in sites throughout the state in February and March. Check DPI's Web site for specific times and dates and a registration form.