ACADEMIC RIGOR
BSF Supported Programs 2011-2012
Engineering Global Solutions
Problem-based learning at Sammamish High School
In September 2010, Sammamish High School was awarded a $4.1 million federal grant as part of the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) program. The winning proposal, "Re-imagining College and Career Readiness: STEM, Equity and Rigor in a Comprehensive High School," is a five-year blueprint to implement problem-based learning (PBL) curricula across all subject areas with special emphasis on "Engineering Global Solutions" to stimulate interest and growth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Bellevue Schools Foundation was instrumental in securing the required matching funds from the private sector for this project and is committed to supporting the project for five years. Expected project outcomes include:
20% increase in Advanced Placement (AP) exam pass rates, particularly in STEM contect areas
20% increase in students with disabilities and limited English proficiency enrolling in AP STEM classes
75% of all students successfully completing precalculus with a B or better
100% of all students reaching standard on state math exams
Read more about the i3 project progress for 2010/11.
Knowledge in Action, Project-based Learning Approach to High School Advanced Placement Courses
The George Lucas Educational Foundation funded project is redesigning AP curriculum to provide deeper learning for high school students. Bellevue teachers are collaborating with researchers from the University of Washington to develop rigorous project work and measure student learning. In the first two years of the project, students taking the project-based AP U.S. Government & Politics performed significantly better on the National AP exam and showed measurable deep understanding of political processes and public policy issues. Ongoing work expands development and research to project-based AP Environmental Science. Challenge cycles for the project-based AP Environmental Science course are illustrated below.
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Click here to view a brief documentary about this program produced by The George Lucas Educational Foundation
Click here to read the finding from the 2008-2009 school year
Click here to read the findings from the 2009-10 school year
Differentiated Learning Initiative
BSF supports Superintendent Dr. Amalia Cudeiro to develop a vigorous learning environment in every school. This initiative uses differentiated instruction to challenge high performing students, help struggling students meet academic standards, and engage students at every level to realize their full potential. This is year 3 of a three-year project modeled after successful programs implemented in other school districts in the U.S. and Canada. These programs resulted in significant increases in student achievement school-wide and district-wide. Bellevue is making rapid progress on using student data to guide instruction.
SMART Goal Grants
BSF continues to support work at individual schools to achieve school specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) learning goals through a competitive grant process. Click here to see the SMART goal grants awarded for the 2011/12 school year.
Highly Capable Programs
Independent evaluation of Bellevue’s highly capable programs identified areas of improvement to better serve needs of all gifted students. BSF is supporting implementation of priority recommendations made by the evaluator, including supporting training for enrichment literacy and other professional development for enrichment/PRISM teachers.
Music Grants 
BSF provides grants for music programs Bellevue's schools to provide:
For 2011-12, BSF is investing in purchase of school instruments and repair of instruments to increase the number available for classroom use. Click here to see the music grants awarded for the 2010/11 school year.
Recent BSF-Supported Academic Programs
The Power of Curriculum, Technology, and Brain Research to Transform Students Achievement
The Gates Foundation funded multi-year program helped develop curriculum in core academic areas to provide students with a superior college-preparatory education. Work includes development of integrated elementary- and secondary-level:
language arts
mathematics
science
social studies
world languages.
Knowledge in Action, Project-based Learning Approach to High School Advanced Placement Courses
The George Lucas Educational Foundation funded program is redesigning AP curriculum to provide deeper learning for high school students. AP U.S. Government & Politics was piloted in 2008-09 and resulted in a measurable increase in achievement on the AP exam and measurable deep understanding of political processes and public policy issues. Phase II of the project is ongoing this academic year.
Math Provided new Math Expressions curriculum for all 7,050 elementary school students (K-5) and professional development in math instruction for teachers. Curriculum includes National Mathematic Advisory Panel (2008) recommendations, including:
- Emphasis on understanding concepts, computational fluency, problem solving
skills, and a developed ability to recall “math facts” - Proficiency in math topics that are the foundation for algebra, including whole
numbers, fractions, aspects of geometry and measurement - Instruction that allows gifted students to accelerate and helps struggling students
with explicit instruction, clear models for solving problems, opportunities for
extensive practice, and specific feedback
Today’s Science
Provided 5,800 students in grades 6 – 10 with comprehensive physics-biology-chemistry coursework based upon the latest scientific and learning research and college preparatory expectations.
- Students improve their writing and mathematics skills to develop a deeper
engagement with class work and mastery in science subjects - Teachers received professional development from experts in science education
Today’s Science provides middle school students with a science foundation that prepares them to take high school-level physics in Grade 8 and complete Physics-Biology-Chemistry college preparatory science by grade 10. High school students can choose from a selection of Advanced Placement science courses in grades 11 and 12. BSF supports development of new units and refining others to give students hands-on learning experiences to reinforce science concepts. Outside expert review from three universities and the Institute of Systems Biology along with student assessment data are being used to update courses.
Today's Science has resulted in a marked increase in the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement science classes and other high-level science courses. Since 2007, the number of AP science exams taken by Bellevue students has increased 57%.
Writing Skills
Provided 9,300 middle and high school students with critical thinking and writing skills they need to succeed in college and the workplace by:
This three-year writing program has resulted in closing the achievement gap in writing, as measured by the 10th grade Washington State Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and advancing students to higher-level writing competency needed for college and other post-secondary opportunities.
