INSPIRED BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

Transcription

1 NSPIRED BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

2 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT I believe that education is the most important endeavor in our community. As our student population grows in size and diversity, the support of our community continues to foster our success and that of our students. From Bellevue voters approving local school levies and bonds, to classroom volunteers, district families, and community partners, this is the community that supports the success of every child, every day. In this Report to Our Community, you will find data on enrollment growth, student performance and district financial data for the school year. We ve also included information on our Instructional Initiatives, Growth and Planning, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in our schools. If you have questions, comments or feedback, please send them to communityrelations@bsd405.org. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our schools. Sincerely, Dr. J. Tim Mills Superintendent VISION

3 ANNUAL REPORT MISSION Our mission is to provide all students with an exemplary college preparatory education so they can succeed in college, career and life. VISION All students will reach or exceed academic proficiency Eliminate the achievement gap All students, including those who already meet or exceed proficiency, will show measurable progress GUIDING PRINCIPLES The following principles guide detailed work across the district at all levels and in all programs and departments. EXCELLENCE: EXEMPLARY EDUCATION All staff and community are focused on student academic success, personal development and citizenship. EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR ALL The District will provide all students access to and support for what they need to achieve excellence. ACCOUNTABILITY The District will use multiple, reliable measures to monitor and adjust instructional, managerial and operational decisions to hold stakeholders accountable for meeting the needs of all students. COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION The District will respect and engage all stakeholders by working collaboratively and communicating in an open and transparent manner to continually ensure student success. QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING The District will recruit, develop and retain the highest quality teaching professionals. We will engage all staff in continuous and collaborative professional development. INNOVATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT The District will create and maintain a culture where learning and innovation are expected, supported and valued. DIVERSITY The District will recognize, respect and embrace the diversity in our classrooms, schools and community. RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP The District will be effective and efficient stewards, accountable for all resources to support student learning.

4 DISTRICT PROFILE 42.1% WHITE ENROLLMENT 19,097 OCTOBER 2014 OFFICIAL COUNT MORE THAN 80 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN THE DISTRICT. 11% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION QUALIFIES FOR THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-LEARNERS PROGRAM. 34.4% 11.6% 8.8% 2.7% ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER HISPANIC/LATINO MULTI-ETHNIC AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK 33.5% OF OUR STUDENTS SPEAK A FIRST LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT ENGLISH. 117 BIRTH COUNTRIES REPRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. ONE IN FIVE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT QUALIFIES FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS.

5 STATE AND NATIONAL MEASUREMENTS MEASUREMENT OF STUDENT PROGRESS (MSP) In 2014 eight district schools participated in Smarter Balanced field testing instead of Measurements of Student Progress. The district 2014 scores shown below for 3rd grade Reading and 5th grade Math includes Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results for the schools that did not take the MSP RD GRADE READING 87 percent of third graders met standard in reading in Third grade reading pass rates have been increasing over the last three years TH GRADE MATH 82 percent of our fifth graders met standard in math in Fifth grade math pass rates have remained relatively stable over the last four years TH GRADE WRITING 85 percent of seventh graders met standard in writing in The seventh grade writing pass rate has remained steady over the last four years TH GRADE SCIENCE 90 percent of eighth graders met standard in science in This is a five percentage point increase and the second five percentage point jump in the last four years DISTRICT STATE

6 STATE AND NATIONAL MEASUREMENTS AP SCORES Bellevue students in grades 9-12 may participate in Advanced Placement (AP) courses; in addition, a full International Baccalaureate (IB) program is offered at Interlake High School. Since the 1990 s all high school students have been encouraged to take AP and/or IB courses. Even with broad participation and a significant increase in total tests taken, the percentage of AP exams receiving a passing score (at least a 3 on the 5-point AP scale) continues to exceed the national average. AP TESTS TAKEN, GRADES % % 73% 68% 65% % BELLEVUE TESTS TAKEN BELLEVUE PASS RATES According to the College Board, about 59.2 percent of high school graduates nationwide earn a passing score on at least one AP exam during high school. In Bellevue, however, a full 89 percent of our Class of 2014 graduates achieved this distinction. CLASS OF 2014 SAT SCORES NATIONAL STATE BELLEVUE READING MATH WRITING

7 INSTRUCTIONAL INITIATIVES In the fall of 2013, the district unveiled three new Instructional Initiatives, a set of priorities for the next three to five years which are closely aligned with the district s mission: to provide all students with an exemplary college preparatory education so they can succeed in college, career and life. The Instructional Initiatives are: 1: Preparing students for academic success in core content areas through achieving proficiency in literacy, math, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), as measured by state assessments. 2: Preparing students for college and career success by graduating high school, meeting college academic distribution requirements (CADR), and earning at least 20 college credits and/or professional certification. 3: Preparing students for a positive and productive life through the development of interpersonal skills and a commitment to the community. The first initiative, Academic Success, focuses on early proficiency in core subject areas. This year, staff were trained on utilizing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) approach to identifying student learning needs, implementing evidence based strategies to increase student learning, and monitoring progress to ensure all students are on track to demonstrate proficiency in reading by third grade, in math by fifth grade, in writing by seventh grade, and in science by eighth grade. Literacy specialists were provided at 13 elementary schools this year and will be provided at all 17 elementary schools next school year. Ten elementary schools have implemented STEM curriculum, which will also expand to all elementary schools in The second initiative, College and Career Readiness, prepares students to graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills to be successful once they leave Bellevue schools. To achieve the goal of 100 percent graduation rate by 2018, the district hired a leader of graduation success and two progress monitors. These leaders are utilizing best practices in early intervention for drop-out prevention and are building relationships with students and developing programs to ensure all students graduate from high school. The district offers many opportunities for students to earn college credit while in high school, such as Running Start, college in the high school, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Career and Technical Education. The third initiative, Positive and Productive Life, looks at the whole child, and ensures that students are prepared to lead a positive life by building social-emotional knowledge and skills, as well as developing a sense of connection to and responsibility for the community. New social-emotional learning curriculum was implemented at the elementary level last year and the middle school level will pilot curriculum next year. NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATIONS Bellevue teachers are committed to excellence in the classroom, both from their students and themselves. Districtwide, nearly 30 percent of Bellevue s teachers have attained the prestigious National Board certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the highest credential available to educators. As of the school year, the district had more than 380 National Board Certified teachers. Of those, 34 were newly certified in 2012, a number that landed the district in the top ten nationally for number of new National Board Certified teachers. After completing three full years in the classroom, teachers can choose to pursue this certification process. National Board certification includes a rigorous evaluation process, the demonstration of ongoing commitment to the education of students and extensive knowledge of the teacher s content area, as well as work showing student growth. Teachers are required to analyze their teaching methods and reflect on the decisions they make in the classroom. Teachers submit a portfolio of work that is evaluated by a committee of educators. It can take one to three years and 400 hours for a teacher to complete the National Board certification process.

8 INNOVAT STEM AND PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOLS Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and problem-based learning (PBL) are thriving in Bellevue schools. Elementary STEM was piloted at three schools during the school year, expanding students learning with curriculum focused on problem solving, collaboration, technology and critical thinking. Funded by the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the program was rolled out to seven additional elementary schools this year. Beginning fall 2015 all elementary schools will teach STEM. Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), elementary STEM engages teachers and students in evidence-based reasoning and argumentation. Developed as a holistic interdisciplinary approach, the STEM framework is also applied to subjects such as language arts, social emotional learning and social studies to enhance students writing skills. Problem-Based Learning was introduced at Sammamish High School in Funded by a highly competitive i3 Grant from the federal government, PBL is now an integral part of the school s curriculum in all subject areas. Seven key elements of PBL can be seen in coursework offered to students at Sammamish. These elements are: authentic problems, authentic assessments, collaboration, student voice, culturally responsive instruction, academic discourse and expertise. The starting point for PBL in the classroom is identifying a problem which students then work to resolve. What makes PBL unique is that it places students in the driver s seat of their education and opens new avenues for learning that cross the boundaries of the disciplines. PBL also creates a dynamic relationship between student and teacher so that developing expertise is a shared pursuit.

9 GROWTH AND PLANNING BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE In recent years the district has experienced growth rates not seen since the 1960 s when Bellevue was a developing community. During the past several years, enrollment has been increasing by up to 600 students a year, with current enrollment at 19,000+ and counting. 25,000 20,000 15,000 19,120 24,282 21,924 19,381 15,576 14,758 15,398 15,188 16,179 17,783 19,097 10,000 10,700 5, This year, district enrollment grew by 3.2 percent or 598+ students. Despite this growth, the district was able to reduce class sizes with the average class size for elementary being 22.9 and 25.1 for middle and high schools. In addition to reducing class size, the district continues to develop a long-term facilities strategy to enhance current Capital Construction projects and allow for specific programs to remain in buildings for the foreseeable future (8-10 years). The following short-term (1-2 years) solutions were put into place for the school year to manage the rapid growth: Additional portables in fall 2015 at Newport Heights, Somerset and Woodridge elementary schools; Tyee Middle School and the Bellewood campus. Relocation of Jing Mei Dual Language Elementary School to the old Newport Heights campus. Relocation of Early Learning programs from crowded sites. Long-term district strategies include the leveraging of new construction to create the physical space needed to serve a growing student population. In February 2014, voters showed their support for the district by approving a $450 million General Obligation Bond measure. This bond will fund Phase III of the district s Capital Construction plan and rebuild five elementary schools, one middle school, and build two new schools to the same high-quality standards of newer buildings. In 2002 and 2008 voters approved Phase I and II of the plan, respectively. ION Construction funded by 2008 Capital Construction Bond.

10 FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY The fiscal year for the district begins September 1 and ends August 31. The following charts show revenue sources and planned expenditures for the school year. The district budget for is $228.9 million. A complete fiscal accounting for the district is available at: REVENUE STATE, GENERAL PURPOSE 45% LOCAL TAXES 23% STATE, SPECIAL PURPOSE 10% LOCAL NONTAX SUPPORT 10% FEDERAL, GENERAL AND SPECIAL PURPOSE 6% OTHER 6% PLANNED EXPENDITURES TEACHING & STUDENT SUPPORT 64.8% DISTRICT CURRICULUM & TEACHING SUPPORT 11.2% BUILDING MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS 8% PRINCIPAL & SCHOOL OFFICE 4.7% SCHOOL HEALTH & SAFETY 3.5% ADMINISTRATION 3.4% SCHOOL BUS & METRO SERVICES 2.9% EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & SPORTS 1.4% COM

11 VIBES VIBES (Volunteers in Bellevue s Education System) is a highly successful, in-school mentor tutor program, supporting students of all needs. Volunteers are placed in one of Bellevue School District s 28 schools as small group and classroom academic tutors and mentors. Each year VIBES places more than 600 volunteers from all walks of life retirees, working professionals, parents and college and high school students. VIBES mentors and tutors are positive, dependable role models. They support academic achievement, encourage development of social skills and motivate students to become life-long learners. There are many opportunities to support Bellevue School District students at all grade levels. To learn more about VIBES contact: Volunteers in Bellevue s Education System, , vibes@bsd405.org, or BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION Founded in 1979, the Bellevue Schools Foundation was created by concerned parents determined to mobilize local resources to assure all students get what they need to succeed regardless of varying state funding. Today, the Foundation recognizes that strong schools build a strong and healthy community. Donors and volunteers are committed to making sure every child in the community receives the high-quality education he or she needs and deserves. The Foundation prides itself on its partnerships with the district, individual PTSAs and a host of people, businesses and organizations in the larger community. Acting as a catalyst, with a focus on human and financial resources, the Foundation strives to create the best possible outcomes for students in Bellevue s public schools. Some of the projects funded by the Foundation include Elementary STEM, Middle School Success and Naviance. The Elementary STEM initiative provides young students with access to comprehensive, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. A pilot began at three schools in , expanded to ten schools in , and will expand to every elementary school in the district in , making Bellevue one of the first school districts in the country to provide STEM education for every elementary student. The Middle School Success Initiative provides resources to support innovative pilot projects to engage middle school students and increase learning. Such programs include Bellevue Big Picture School s high-tech MakerSpace to promote hands-on learning, as well as Highland Middle School s SOAR program to provide one-on-one after school support to students in need. Naviance is a college planning and application system designed to simplify the process and encourage collaboration between students, teachers, and counselors. Students in every middle and high school are using the system to explore college and career options and complete their applications. The Foundation also hosts Education Connections, a lunch lecture series, featuring speakers on three education related topics each spring and fall. Events are open to the community and include a complimentary lunch. To learn more about the Foundation, visit their website at MUNITY

12 DISTRICT FACTS The Bellevue School District currently serves approximately 19,000+ students in 28 schools throughout Bellevue and surrounding communities total budget $228.9 million Average class size Elementary (K-5): 23 Middle (6-8): 25 High (9-12): 26 Choice schools (grades 6-12): 23 District schools 15 elementary schools 1 Spanish Immersion elementary 1 Chinese Dual Language elementary 5 middle schools 4 high schools 2 choice schools (grades 6-12) The district employs more than 2,000 people, including 1,100 teachers and 900 support staff. Support staff represents departments which provide ongoing operational support for all schools, and includes but is not limited to Accounting, Curriculum and Instruction, Facilities, Human Resources, Nutrition Services, Maintenance, Payroll, Technology and Transportation NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA