Founded in 1979, the mission of the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) is to promote and help fund the best possible learning opportunities for all students in the Bellevue School District. The funds we raise help improve student learning through district wide academic initiatives, curriculum material and book purchases, training opportunities for teachers, and an array of programs that meet students' special needs. We also help bridge the gap between the basic funding provided by the State of Washington and what our District's students need to truly excel.

                     TRANSFORMING EDUCATION. SUPPORTING STUDENTS.

   P.O. Box 40644 • Bellevue, WA 98015-4644 • 425.456.4199 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since 1979, the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) has raised over $17.4 million for Bellevue schools with more than 10,000 donors contributing.

In 2007-2008:

• Individuals donated nearly two-thirds of the $1.4 million that BSF raised
     for Bellevue public schools' programs. The remainder came from
     corporations, businesses, and foundations.
• Middle and high school students experienced an improved Language Arts
     curriculum with a focus on acquiring the skill in nonfiction writing they will
     need to succeed in college and the workplace. ($258,000)
• An articulated, systematic math, science, and language arts curriculum
     that is accessible to all students, parents and teachers on the curriculum
     web.
• Every year, BSF directs strategic grant funds for schools with a high
     percentage of students from low-income families. Support programs
     range from after school reading and math clubs at elementary schools to
     after school tutoring, community and/or family support programs, and
     summer high school for incoming 9th graders to give them a jump start
     on making a successful transition to high school. ($130,000)
• Continuing development of an improved, comprehensive three year
     physics-biology-chemistry curriculum based upon the latest scientific and
     learning research. ($127,000)
• BSF helped Bellevue teachers become leaders in their field by
     underwriting National Board Certification fees, mentoring support, and
     professional videotaping of portfolios ($232,700), and gave ALL new full-
     time teachers $200 each, to help with classroom purchases. ($31,300)
• BSF awarded more than $100,000 to fund innovative classroom projects
     in all Bellevue schools.
• Throughout the school year, BSF helps fund the VIBES mentoring and
     tutoring program for struggling students. ($75,000)

In 2008-2009, donations through BSF will make the following possible:

Academic Rigor

• Language Arts - BSF is funding the third year of a 3-year Grade 6 - 12
     Language Arts/English program to better prepare students for successful
     college and workforce writing.
• Math - BSF funds the purchase of textbooks for the new K-5 math
     curriculum, Math Expressions, for every student in the district. Math
     Expressions, a comprehensive standards-based mathematics curriculum,
     offers new ways to teach and learn mathematics.
• Science - BSD continues to develop the three-year Today's Science
     curriculum: Physics in 8th grade, Biology in 9th grade, and Chemistry in
     10th grade. Additional refinement of science courses in 6th and 7th grade
     will provide an important foundation for the high school courses.
• Music Grants - Through the Charlotte Field Endowment Fund, BSF
     provides grants for music programs throughout the schools in the Bellevue
     School District.

Support for Students

• Bridging the Achievement Gap Fund - BSF provides Bridging the
     Achievement Gap Grants to fund projects that offer extra academic
     support for struggling students. These projects are tailored for the
     specific needs at schools, as identified by the school principals, with high
     poverty and significant English language learner populations.
     This year, the Fund supports:
  
  • Elementary - After-school Reading and Math Programs, (Lake
       Hills), Kindergarten-Grade 2 classroom support (Phantom Lake),
       Kindergarten classroom support (Sherwood Forest, Stevenson),
       Strategic Reading Intervention Instruction (Spiritridge), Literacy
       Assistance for Grades K-1 (Woodridge).
  • Middle/High - After school tutoring (Highland), Saturday Support
       program (Robinswood), and 'Starting Strong' summer school
       (Interlake, Sammamish).
    
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) - BSF funds the
     expansion of AVID to serve all 5th grade classrooms in the district,
     provides for a pilot AVID schools-wide strategies model at Highland
     Middle School, and trains 6th grade language arts and social studies
     teacher in the district with inquiry, organizational, seminar and Peer Study
     Group instructional strategies.
• VIBES (Volunteers in Bellevue's Education System) - BSF funds training
     and placement of volunteer mentors as well as coordination fees at
     all schools.

Support for Teachers

• National Board Certification - BSF funding provides teacher
     reimbursement of certification fees, mentoring support, and professional
     videotaping of portfolios.
• New Teachers - $200 to each new teacher in the district for classroom
     materials.

More than 10,000 donors, including thousands of individuals and dozens of businesses and corporations, have contributed to BSF programs since its inception. BSF obtains grants from local and national sources to benefit Bellevue schools.