Founded in 1979, Bellevue Schools Foundation's mission is to promote and help fund the best possible learning opportunities for all students in the Bellevue School District.

We raise funds to 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.

Keep up to date on BSF-funded programs by joining our list.  We send out updates once or twice a month.  Thanks!

                     TRANSFORMING EDUCATION. SUPPORTING STUDENTS.

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

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Articulated, systematic math, science, language arts, social studies, and world languages curriculum that is accessible to all students, parents and teachers on the curriculum web.  Results include District-wide student achievement with state test scores well above statewide student performance and SAT test performance well above state and national averages.

• Improvements to the math curriculum to help align it with the highest international math standards.
• Support to improve writing competencies for all students to prepare them for writing expected in college in all subject areas.  This intense support for writing has resulted in closing the “achievement gap” between low-income students and their more advantaged peers and, at the same time, raising the bar for all students.

• BSF funds a college-preparatory 8^th through 10^th grade science sequence (physics, biology and chemistry) to prepare students to take additional Advanced Placement (AP) science courses in 11^th and 12^th grade.

• Annual funding to help bridge the achievement gap at schools with high percentages of children living in poverty and/or speaking a first language other than English.  Projects specifically target children and youth that struggle to help them find success.  The outcomes are making a difference!  For example, the Kindergarten Early Literacy Intervention project at our Title I and other high-needs elementary schools has resulted in doubling the number of students achieving year-end benchmarks with some schools reporting 90-100% of students reaching this achievement.

• Support to VIBES tutoring and mentoring for students when they need extra help before, during and after school.  Mentors provide one-to-one help for students as well as support small groups of students in classrooms across the district.  College Corps mentors help disadvantaged seniors apply for college.  The Legacy Leadership Initiative provides mentoring to youth of color in Bellevue’s middle schools.

• Funding for the AVID study skills and college readiness development program in all middle and high schools.

• BSF has helped over 265 teachers achieve their National Board Certification. The results include a 88% first-time pass rate for Bellevue teachers (as compared to a national average pass rate of 43%) and the greatest number of National Board Certified teachers in Washington State.

• Funding to start the high school gifted program.  Interlake High School graduated the first cohort of gifted students in 2010.

• BSF supports enrichment and innovation in classrooms across the district through competitive small grant programs for academics and music.

For information on programs, click here.