District & School Accountability: Overview of Accountability Measures
Measures of Progress: What are they and what do they tell us? We continually maintain our focus on developing an educational program that enables all graduates to make a smooth transition from grade 12 to grade 13. We measure our progress toward reaching this goal in multiple ways. Below is a listing of the indicators we use to assess our performance along with links to the evidence that supports our efforts to be a high-performing school district.
Partnerships: International assessments and feedback from outside experts guide improvements in the district's curriculum. The district has established partnerships with organizations and individuals for the purpose of creating the best curriculum possible to prepare students for success in making a transition from high school to college. For example, Bellevue students' results on international math and science tests, given by Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), is guiding changes the district is making in math and science curricula. The Partnerships link contains feedback from our partners about our curriculum.
Elementary, Middle School, High School Indicators: Student test scores on state-mandated tests, grades, on-time graduation rates, PSAT and SAT scores, high school enrollments in challenging coursework and other assessment results are studied carefully, and analyses are used to determine curriculum modifications, changes in academic support programs, and improvements in professional development offerings for staff.
By state law, all our students in grades 3-8 plus 10 are assessed in reading and math, plus certain grade levels also take tests in writing and science. Bellevue's performance, as measured by the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning), is strong compared to surrounding districts and to the state as a whole:
State Test Scores Link BSD School by School Test Results
The district is in the top one percent in the nation in terms of student participation in advanced level courses such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate. For the Class of 2009, 89 percent of our graduates completed at least one of these college level courses in high school, with 78 percent completing two or more. Enrollment in challenging coursework in high school
Initiatives: In addition to an initiative to improve the curriculum, we examine the results of three other improvement initiatives: a consistent support curriculum for students who need extra help, National Professional Standards Board Certification for teachers, and increased use of technology to share student progress information with parents and aid teachers and principals in ensuring the curriculum is implemented. Initiatives link - Evidence of progress in this area is that Bellevue leads the state in the number of teachers earning National Board Certification.
Individual School Improvement Plans: Required by state law, these are designed to address student achievement on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. School Improvement Plans link
Additional Information on Performance Measures: Links in the left pane under District and School Accountability will take the reader through a comprehensive performance assessment of many aspects of the Bellevue School District. We have worked diligently to improve the chances of success in these challenging courses for our special education, English as a Second Language and economically disadvantaged students. We have discovered many approaches that work, like our summer "Jump Start" program for elementary and middle school students.
Our Career Tech programs have undergone the same analysis as our regular curriculum and this has led to changes that favor programs with external evaluation standards in much the same way that AP and IB tests are used in the academic program. The Newport High School Cisco Networking Academy is one example of the new look of Career Tech. In addition to taking industry-approved exams that lead to certification, Cisco students who receive a B or better earn 20 college credits through Bellevue Community College (BCC).
Our programs are also benefiting from new technology tools, which allow us to easily disaggregate district assessment data and other student information, giving us a better picture of specific areas that need improvement. We are constantly refining a curriculum widely recognized as one of the state's most consistent, coordinated, and challenging. The district's commitment to all graduates being well prepared for college means that the district and its schools will continue to focus staff and resources as long as it takes to remedy gaps in instruction, support and student achievement.