The Bellevue Schools Foundation has received a $100,000 donation to help improve academics and social needs in the schools.
The grant, by the Bacon Family Foundation, is evenly split between BSF’s Project Readiness, which provides reading support for kindergartners and summer support for academically at-risk students entering middle and high school, and direct service support through BSF’s collaboration with the city of Bellevue’s school-based Wrap-Around Initiative.
The Wrap-Around Initiative provides a dental van, children’s counseling services, emergency assistance for rent, utilities and clothing, after-school child care, and a spectrum of additional services and activities to bring families and the Bellevue community together.
The foundation is focused on improving both academics and living conditions for children in Bellevue.
“The exciting thing about having Bacon family members involved with the Bellevue Schools Foundation is the passion and focus they bring to our shared work,” said Roxanne Shepherd, BSF’s Executive Director.
“Their generous donation and the way they give provide both immediate and long-term impact for our students.”
Tony Bacon said that the foundation is targeting Bellevue because poverty here is often hidden from view, but affects hundreds of children every day.
“The children in our community need school-centered social and health services and extra academic support to help them succeed,” Bacon said. He noted that the schools foundation has a “proven track-record of success for helping disadvantaged children achieve academic success.”
“This targeted support in our kindergarten classrooms makes a huge difference,” said Dr. Tracy Maury, Bellevue School District Director of Title I, LAP, and School Support. “Last year, this project helped 90 percent of kindergarten students in six of our low-income schools meet or exceed year-end benchmarks; the remaining 10 percent made significant progress.”
Maury noted that the children were ready for first grade reading and writing challenges when schools opened this past fall.
“With ongoing financial support from the Bacon Foundation, we will be able to sustain our focus on kindergarten readiness and success,” Maury said.
School officials say the 90 percent meeting or exceeding year-end benchmarks is particularly impressive when looking deeper into individual schools. At Stevenson Elementary School, for example, which not only has a high-poverty population, but also serves children who live in homeless and domestic-abuse shelters, the percentage of kindergarteners meeting or exceeding standards rose from 35 percent before a classroom aid was added to increase reading literacy to 92 percent after the program’s implementation.
At the middle and high school level, students in the Starting Strong program have classes in summer to learn study and academic skills.
“The Starting Strong kids are already leaders at school, are so comfortable talking with teachers, are so ready to ask questions and get help,” said Eric McDowell, Odle Middle School principal. I’ve been in education 20 years and Starting Strong was one of the Top 5 best things I’ve ever been a part of in all those years.”
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.
