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Bellingham, Wash. – Bellingham School District announced today that it had received a $4.49 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the district’s ongoing efforts to help all students achieve. The grant, one of eight to Washington state school districts, is part of the Foundation’s commitment to recognize and encourage high achievement models and develop strong leadership in education.

"This grant is a great testament to all the hard work that the district staff and this community have put into helping all students achieve," said Bellingham Superintendent Dale Kinsley. "We look forward to collaborating with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as we build on our successes."

Bellingham has been working toward district-wide improvements for more than eight years. The district has focused on connected strategies to help raise achievement for all students. With clear, high learning standards, district classrooms are developing an instructional model which is based on regular student assessments, requires active student learning, integrates powerful technology tools, and emphasizes literacy at all levels.

Regular reading assessments are conducted in all elementary classrooms and individual reading plans are prepared for students who have not met grade-level standards. The district also supports programs designed to engage students in their own learning and reaches out to parents as partners to support student success. Student-led conferences with parents and teachers, service-learning projects between school and community, and family-information centers at elementary schools are all examples of efforts to support student and parent engagement.

The Foundation’s grant will support three core objectives to help accelerate the district’s current work. The grant will support the district’s efforts to develop a model for literacy instruction in all classrooms, a system for providing adult advocates and student-developed plans at the secondary schools, and a framework for improving school-to-home communication using technology.

"Bellingham has really reached out into the community and built a strong strategic plan," said Tom Vander Ark, Executive Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Education Initiative. "The Foundation is excited to partner with the district as it moves forward."

"Selecting these eight districts was not easy because of the strong commitment that so many districts have to helping all students achieve," said Vander Ark. "But Washington is Bill and Melinda Gates’ backyard, and these grants are the first step in a long-term commitment to Washington students and schools."

Bellingham School District (www.bham.wednet.edu) is one of eight Washington state school districts receiving a high achievement model grant. The Foundation will eventually give approximately 30 grants to high achieving districts, both within the state and around the country. Districts were selected based on their demonstrated commitment to using research-based models, emphasizing quality professional development, improving access to technology, and building community and home partnerships. The grants also require ongoing evaluation to help districts learn and adapt their practices according to what is working best.

The other Washington state districts receiving high achievement model grants were Nooksack Valley, Hockinson, Kennewick, Spokane, Enumclaw, Mabton, and Evergreen. These districts and their work will serve as models for expanding this education grant program nationally. Information on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s education grants can be found at www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/education.

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