Adams, WI - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today addressed the vital need for smaller class size in our nation's public schools, and praised Wisconsin's Student Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program for acting as a national model for reducing class sizes in the earliest grades.

"I believe the best way to encourage smaller class sizes on the federal level is to bring the successful principles of Wisconsin's SAGE program to Washington," Feingold said. "I'm pleased that President Clinton's budget has made a real commitment to small class size, and one that directly benefits Wisconsin."

Wisconsin's SAGE program helps more than 80 schools across Wisconsin offer smaller classes in their kindergartens and first grades, and research has shown that these smaller classes are very effective in helping children learn. A recent evaluation of Wisconsin's SAGE program, done by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, confirms SAGE students' continued success in all areas of testing: mathematics, reading and language arts. The report shows total test scores for SAGE students were significantly higher than those of students from comparison schools.

"We've got to ensure that education is a top national priority, and SAGE has proven that smaller class size can play a key role in education reform," Feingold said.

Feingold's second Listening Session of 1999, and 434th since he was first elected in 1992, was held at Friendship-Adams Elementary School, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Feingold's third Listening Session of his term, and 435th since he was first elected, took place at Necedah Area School beginning at 1:30 p.m. Feingold has renewed his pledge to hold Listening Sessions in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties every year, after keeping his promise to do so during each year of his first term.