Priorities for Progress

Our priorities for staff learning this year revolve around a focus on great teaching through a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) that includes high quality instruction in Tier I for every student, and support for those with specific additional needs through intentional and impactful Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports.  Our intention is for every teacher to have the tools and mindset they need to teach well, and to continue to work to develop skills over the course of a career. 

Top 5 Priorities   

• Continue to improve efforts around inclusion. This work includes a district committee structure for MTSS and continued development of inclusive instructional strategies.
   

• Provide access to grade-level content for all students using adopted Tier 1 curricula. Specifically, we will prioritize our district approach to the teaching of reading and our overall approach to literacy. 
   

• Continue to strengthen connections between academic and social emotional learning. This involves strategies to revisit and re-emphasize our work using district resources such as Caring School Communities (CSC) and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS).   
   

• Improve student attendance through frequent and targeted communication between district, schools and families. Building and enacting systems within the school day to improve and support student attendance is a focus for all schools. 
   

• Learn more about how artificial intelligence (AI) works and about the cautions for using AI in instructional settings through strong partnerships with teachers, instructional coaches, library media specialists and the University of Washington. 

Other Important Priorities   

• Continue to partner with the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education program at Western Washington University and Northwest Educational Service District to train our elementary staff on recently released OpenSciEd units. 
   

• Measure progress through data to assess the impact of instructional strategies and interventions. We commit to regular communication about our district assessment practices, including the use of district data beliefs, created by the MTSS committee, to guide decision making.  
   

• Expand College in the High School to opportunities and partnerships for approximately 20 courses. These courses are available at all four high schools. We also continue to expand CTE dual credit opportunities and look for grant funding.  
   

• Continue to align in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years  Program (PYP) as a key lever for achieving Promise outcomes at the elementary level. Continue to align IB units of inquiry to focus on student identity, anti-racist teaching, and on making school a welcoming place for all.

Our commitment to early childhood education continues. Through voter support, Bellingham has been providing full-time kindergarten for all students since 2011. In 2015, we expanded our Promise Kindergarten (Promise K) program that grants educational opportunities to pre-K students who don’t have access to high quality early learning. In 2022, we extended the Promise K experience to be a full year of learning. In 2024, we expanded our program with the opening of the new District Office Early Learning Center, which includes serving children and families who qualify for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) support.  The Graduation, Reality and Dual-role Skills (GRADS) parenting program continues in our high schools for students. We support Title I-funded preschools at Alderwood and Cordata elementary schools.

Top 5 Priorities   

• Offer high-quality, play-based and well-supported transitional kindergarten (known as Promise K) in all 14 elementary schools, with two classrooms at Cordata Elementary.  
   

• Continue to strengthen our inclusive practices in all classrooms, with specific focus on our Promise K to second grade classrooms where students are served in a fully inclusive learning environment.  
   

• Refine our partnership with the NWESD to provide full-day preschool for students and families who qualify for ECEAP support at the District Office Early Learning Center. This space serves up to forty students.
   

• Support developmentally appropriate practices, including play-based instruction, to ensure all students have multiple access points and feel cared for and respected in their classroom environment. 
   

• Develop strong alignment, collaboration and connection for our Promise K teachers through optional professional learning opportunities each month.   

Other Important Priorities   

•  Continue to support our pregnant and parenting teens enrolled in the GRADS program by providing a flexible and student-centered approach for each student.  
   

• Explore opportunities to expand our ability to provide high-quality preschool experiences for our young children. 
   

• Consistently provide professional learning experiences for our staff to better align practices and center student learning in meaningful ways.  

Our One Schoolhouse Approach describes how we envision our work to ensure all students and families will be cared for and respected. We focus our efforts on reducing barriers for our families and opening access for all to fully engage in the school experience. One of our top initiatives is Project Free Education (PFE), providing school supplies and reducing costs in many other areas as well. 

This year, due to budget challenges, we have asked families to make a $100 donation per student, per season for athletics and activities. We have also instituted a $100 fee for traffic safety and continue to rely on the support of the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation

Top 5 Priorities   

• Construct a new space for Community Transitions on the Whatcom Community College campus. This new space will provide access for students receiving Special Education services through the end of the school year in which they turn 22. Services include job-coaching, work-based learning opportunities and case management in a higher education environment with their peer age group. 
   

• Partner with our parent groups and support their work to provide equitable enrichment opportunities to all our students. Collective goals include a One Schoolhouse Approach to fundraising to increase opportunities and resources.  
   

• Support elementary schools when they do not have an active PTA/PTO to ensure those schools are able to offer enrichment classes at no cost to families. 
   

• Provide opportunities for all students to participate in athletic and enrichment activities, including Unified Sports. Local levies fund athletics and activities opportunities for students. 
   

• Engage and educate our community about our budget and levies to ensure transparency, trust and understanding of the district’s budget and ballot measures.

Other Important Priorities   

•  Increase advertising and sponsorship revenue to support athletics and activities, using the scoreboard technology provided through the technology levy. Any advertising revenue generated will be shared between the high schools to support extracurricular programs, a cost that is not funded by the state.
   

• Enhance high school athletic fields, including replacement turf when needed, thanks to voter-approved bonds, which allow us to serve as one of very few school districts locally that can host large events and contests.    
   

• Continue to reduce financial barriers for students and families by seeking alternative funding sources like grants. 

Bellingham Public Schools is always growing partnerships and expanding communications with our families, stakeholders and community members to enhance student success. Our committees and advisory groups regularly recommend program enhancements. Our school board holds community linkages and student roundtables several times a year to gain insight into our schools. The Family Partnership Program, which supports homeschooling families, continues to grow. The Family Engagement team connects with families at our Family Resource Centers, located at Shuksan Middle School and Carl Cozier Elementary School. The centers link families with resources, including translation and interpretation services, food banks, technology, homeless support and more to deliver on The Bellingham Promise. We strive to be open and authentic in our partnerships with families, students and the community.

Top 5 Priorities  

• Establish a parent education center for families to gather, learn and connect. The center will offer a flexible schedule, monthly computer classes, positive discipline, Leyendo Juntos (Reading Together), Café con Pan (Coffee and Bread) to foster community and dialogue.  
   

• Develop a system in collaboration with the City of Bellingham, Opportunity Council, Interfaith Coalition and Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS) to support students and families experiencing crisis.  
   

• Continue the implementation of the Language Access Plan, the distribution of ILA (Instant Language Assistant) devices and AI Translators in our most diverse schools for real-time professional interpretation in more than 210 languages and dialects.   
   

• Launch new school and district websites, thanks to tech levy funds, to better serve families and our community with improved mobile access, translations and search to more easily find information and resources.
   

• Strengthen our relationship with Native families and students by continuing to support and uplift the Native American Family Committee. We aim to deepen our trust and commitment through consistent engagement, shared leadership and culturally responsive practices.    

Other priorities  

• Establish a cross-departmental and community collaboration to implement events throughout the school year, aimed at removing barriers to student participation in athletics.   
   

• Continue to partner with the Boys & Girls Club and provide after-school bus service for students to serve as a hub with other districts in the county in an effort to support student mental health and/or physical needs.   
   

• In collaboration with the family liaisons at each school and community partners, continue the family engagement specialist role dedicated to enhancing the support for unhoused families and/or those at risk of losing housing.  
   

• Enhance our partnership with the Assistance League of Bellingham, which generously supports students with clothing, shoes, backpacks and other resources through its Operation School Bell program.  
   

• Engage with our multilingual families, creating culturally driven in-person and online learning opportunities at elementary and middle levels districtwide.  
   

• Expand training to all school staff on families and students experiencing homelessness so our entire system is ready to identify the students, know about the resources available nd provide the appropriate support.   
   

• Continue to provide family support services including our Family Resource Centers and homeless support program, as well as family-focused districtwide events, such as the annual Back-to-School Block Party.

Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) remains central to our mission of creating learning environments where every student and staff member feels seen, valued and supported. EDI practices continue to challenge and expand our perspectives, encouraging us to rethink how we teach, learn and lead. We approach this work with renewed energy—motivated by the progress we have made and the possibilities ahead.  

By engaging with data, listening deeply to our learners, and reflecting on our practices, we strive to build a culturally responsive and inclusive staff. We center student voices and experiences, recognizing our collective commitment to support all learners.

Top 5 Priorities  

•  Finalize and implement all phases of the Interrupting Bias and Hate professional development series. Ensure every staff member is equipped and held accountable for responding to bias and hate with compassion, consistency and effectiveness. 
   

• Intentionally work in partnership with Human Resources to recruit, retain and grow a diverse workforce for a variety of positions across the district.
   

• Refine districtwide protocols in alignment with policies to ensure timely, consistent and restorative responses. Simultaneously, develop and implement a systemwide tool to assess the cultural impact of equity initiatives, curriculum integration and staff practice using data to guide continuous improvement and uphold district values.
   

• Continue to build on our student discipline approach and review the data to create more inclusive and equitable systems of support. This will be a holistic approach, implementing proactive lessons to support ongoing learning to support student conduct and inclusionary practices.  
   

• Create and implement inquiry-based units that promote anti-hate and anti-racist learning at the elementary level, fostering empathy, critical thinking and social responsibilities.

Other Priorities:   

• Support LGBTQ+ students by expanding collaboration with the Common Goodness Project and other initiatives that promote safe, affirming environments.
   

• Continue to develop structured opportunities for diverse voices to be included and heard from in our instructional program.
   

• Center humanizing language and inclusive communication by embedding humanizing, identity-affirming language in all district communications—internal and external—to foster belonging, empathy and respect across all learning and working environments.

We support the diverse needs and learning styles of our students through our key strategy of being innovative and flexible. In our district, we believe all students will be exceptional in their own way. We offer an array of educational and vocational options to support a diversity of life choices. Among many other paths, a student’s post-secondary pathway may involve studying at a four-year university or a two-year community college, pursuing a technical certification or heading directly into the workforce. To prepare our students, we support a technology-rich learning environment to ensure students and staff have access to relevant and effective learning tools, content and curriculum. We continue to support and integrate effective programs, such as International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). 

We are also committed to providing healthy, safe and sustainable learning environments for all our students, and use our Climate Action Plan to plan bold steps toward a “hopeful and healthy future for our community through a systematic and enduring commitment to addressing the climate crisis.”

Top 5 Priorities  

• Continue progress toward our Climate Action Plan goals, designed by a robust community process to help our district be more sustainable. Projects this year include realizing utility savings from newly installed solar arrays on five schools, thanks to a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce; tracking indoor and outdoor air quality via monitors in each school; and incorporating three new energy-efficient propane buses to our transportation fleet.
   

• Plan for extensive districtwide facility maintenance projects. A multi-disciplinary committee of staff and community members reviewed and advised on the prioritization of facility needs that could be funded by the facilities maintenance levy on the  ballot in the November 2025 election. All major systems for all district facilities were assessed for repair as part of the planning process, including roofs, HVAC systems and playgrounds. 
   

• Continue progress toward innovative bond projects supporting inclusive practices, like planning for new accessible playgrounds at Northern Heights and Geneva elementary schools.
   

• Continue providing excellent facilities for recreation, the arts and learning for students and the community beyond the school day. We are proud of our commitment to providing turf fields, full-sized gyms, inclusive playgrounds, performing arts centers, and meeting spaces for our students and staff, and for the community at large through facilities rentals.
   

• Continue to seek and invite creative partnerships  to serve our students. Key partners include Whatcom Community College, WECU, Sea Mar and the Washington State Department of Health for generous support of special efforts with our Community Transitions program and the school-based health center at Options High School.  

Other Important Priorities  

• Grow our Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. The new Sustainable Engineering: Electric Vehicle Construction course begins this year thanks to a generous donation of the vehicle from foundry10, and is part of a new renewable energy pathway. In addition, a solar learning lab at Options High School was installed summer 2025 and will inform student learning going forward.  
   

• Provide free student meals for all students at 15 of our schools in the 2025-26 school year through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program and the Meals for Washington Students (MWS) program.  
   

• Increase ridership in our transportation program by adjusting routes and stops so more students have a convenient opportunity to ride our school buses.  
   

• Continue to advance student safety resources through expanded building security controls, digital tools, safety programs and technologies.   

Our priorities for staff learning this year revolve around a focus on great teaching through multi-tiered systems of support that includes high quality instruction for every student, and targeted, intentional additional support for students who have specific learning needs.  We intend to stay the course with the previous year’s firm goals detailed below.   

Top 5 Priorities   

• Prioritize the development of multi-tiered systems of support, led by a newly implemented district committee structure for 2024-25. This work includes continued development of inclusive instructional strategies as a top priority for professional learning this year. This includes our work to provide direction and support for teachers with students who have identified Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), as well as the whole range of students.  

• Use adopted Tier 1 curricula and provide access to grade level content for all students. Specifically, we will prioritize our district approach to the teaching of reading, using district adopted curricula and instructional strategies that are known, implemented with fidelity and assessed for impact on learning.    

• Make and strengthen connections between academic and social emotional learning. This involves strategies to revisit and re-emphasize our work on the teaching of social emotional learning skills and abilities using district provided curricular resources such as Caring School Community (CSC), and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS).     

• Continue our commitment to supporting building-based collaboration and co-planning of professional learning. We remain committed to the district-wide firm goals of inclusionary instructional practices and student conduct efforts. Collaboration blocks on early release Thursdays at all levels provide an additional time resource for grade level teams, content area groups, and other collaborative groups to meet and learn together.    

• Use data to measure progress for assessing the impact of instructional strategies and interventions. Last year we supported the expansion of iReady assessments into middle schools. The use of those assessments continues across the middle and elementary schools.  We also commit to regular communication about our district assessment practices, including sending reminders to staff about assessment schedules, priorities, and reporting requirements to ensure assessments help address student learning needs.   

Other Important Priorities   

• Improve student attendance through frequent and targeted communication between district, schools and families. Great Teaching with Strong Support is predicated on students being in school to participate and engage in instruction.    

• Continue to expand the International Baccalaureate Primary Years’ Program as a key lever for reaching Promise Outcomes at the elementary level. Building integrated units of inquiry continues in elementary schools as a focus for this school year, led by our team of instructional coaches working collaboratively with their school teams to continue our focus on student identity, anti-racist teaching, and making school a welcoming place for all our children.   

Our commitment to early childhood education continues. In 2015, we expanded our Promise Kindergarten (Promise K) program that provides a quality early learning experience to pre-K students who do not otherwise have access to preschool opportunities. In 2022, we extended the Promise K experience to be a full year of learning. In 2024, we expanded our program with the opening of the new District Office Early Learning Center, which includes serving children and families who qualify for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) support.  The Graduation, Reality and Dual-role Skills (GRADS) parenting program continues in our high schools for students. We support Title One-funded preschools at Alderwood and Cordata elementary schools.   

Top 5 Priorities   

• Offer a robust full-day preschool experience for children, ages 3-5, at the District Office Early Learning Center.  This includes opening two classrooms that will serve up to forty children.     

• Develop a strong partnership with the NW Educational Services District to offer 30 children and their families who qualify for high quality full-day preschool through a state-funded ECEAP grant.     

• Offer Promise Kindergarten in all fourteen elementary schools across the district and continue to support the developmentally appropriate practices for young learners in an inclusive, play-based environment.    

• Support fully inclusive classrooms in grades PK-1 that includes a strong focus on early childhood education best practices and our District’s ongoing commitment to multiple access points for all learners.     

• Provide high-quality professional development opportunities for K-3 teachers and early learning para educators, including summer training, book studies and professional learning communities focused on grade-specific learning needs.     

Other Important Priorities   

• Refine and adjust our Early Learning Center program by offering expanded hours for all families.    

• Continue to support our parenting teens enrolled in the GRADS program by providing a flexible and student-centered approach for each student.    

Our One Schoolhouse Approach describes how we visualize our work to ensure all students and families will be cared for and respected. We focus our efforts on reducing barriers for our families and opening access for all to fully engage in the school experience. One of our top initiatives has been Project Free Education; we provide all school supplies for families and reduce costs in countless other areas as well. This includes elimination of course fees, testing fees, reduced athletic and activity costs, field trip expenses and more.   

Top 5 Priorities   

• Continue to support and refine Project Free Education to reduce financial barriers for students and staff while seeking alternative funding sources like grants.   

• Work on capital projects thanks to community support of our facilities bonds. Projects include planning for a new space for Community Transitions and collaborating with the city on its master planning for the Civic Athletic Complex to find shared benefits for relocating Carl Cozier Elementary School.    

• Provide community access through facility rentals to the improved Bellingham and Squalicum tennis courts and new turf field opening Fall 2024 at Kulshan Middle School.   

• Expand health services to support students and families thanks to funding from grants and the Whatcom County Health Department, including mental health specialists and administration and opening a school-based health care center at Options.   

• Continue developing coordinated PK-12 athletic, enrichment and activities for all students, with the goal of offering accessible, healthy, robust choices for children in our community to be active and engaged.    

Other Important Priorities   

• Purchase online and electronic curriculum, testing, educational resources and connection resources.   

• Strengthen support to PTA’s / parent groups and other enrichment partners through the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation and our volunteer coordinator partnership  

• Continue outdoor school opportunities with the help of grant funding (e.g., fifth grade outdoor learning).    

Top 5 Priorities  

• Continue to partner with the Boys and Girls Club and provide after-school bus service for students from six of our schools in an effort to support students’ mental and physical health.  

• Create a Family Engagement Specialist role dedicated to enhancing the support for unhoused families and/or those at risk of losing housing in collaboration with the family liaisons at each school and community partners.  

• In partnership with Whatcom Literacy Council, we will continue to expand technology classes for parents to increase digital and technical access and proficiency for our families.  

• Implement our updated Language Access Plan and introduce the ILA (Instant Language Assistant) devices in our most diverse schools for real-time professional interpretation in more than 210 languages and dialects.   

• Engage with our multilingual families, creating culturally driven in-person opportunities, like “Café con Pan” at elementary and middle levels and online, like “Conexiones Latinas” districtwide.  

Other priorities  

• Continue to collaborate with the World Relief of Whatcom County to welcome new refugee families into our district and offer support and assistance to help get them settled and enrolled in our schools as soon as possible.  

• Continue to provide training to all school staff on families and students experiencing homelessness so our entire system is ready to identify the students, provide the appropriate support, and know about the resources available.  

• Grow our partnership with the Assistance League of Bellingham, which generously supports students with clothing through its Operation School Bell program.   

• Expand the collaboration between the City of Bellingham, Opportunity Council, and Interfaith Coalition to address the gaps in services for families experiencing housing instability.  

• Continue to provide family support services including our Family Resource Centers, homeless support program and family-focused districtwide events, including the Block Party, and Winter Blast festival.   

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) concepts and practices continue to both uplift and challenge our socialized ways of thinking, learning, and teaching. We rise to the challenges with ambitious energy, inspired by successes among great teachers and learners, and with strong supports for an ever-changing community. By reflecting on data and listening to our learners, we will be able to develop and support a culturally responsive staff, centering the experiences and voices of our learners. Learning alongside them, we support the development of individual, team, and schoolwide growth, relationships, and leadership, demonstrating that we value the knowledge and wisdom that families and communities bring to our collective learning environments.   

Top 5 Priorities  

• Ensure that all staff receive common training for Interrupting Bias and Hate so they can provide specific intervention during incidents.   

• Enhance the partnership between EDI and Human Resources to build and support employee resource groups, provide equitable training for hiring, and increase support for equitable hiring practices.   

• Increase the integration of the Since Time Immemorial curriculum, continue building relationships with local Tribal educators and leaders, and establish the Native Family Committee to support Title VI programs.   

• Implement district-wide response protocols for the 3209 Bias Incident and Hate Speech policy and procedure to ensure consistent and effective handling of incidents.   

• Develop units of inquiry around high quality anti-hate and anti-racist curriculum at the elementary level  

Other Priorities:   

• Work to diversify staff by continuing to participate in Northwest Educational Service District (ESD 189) two-year planning grant called THE LEADER initiative.   

• Expand Latinos in Action to second high school. Latinos in Action is an organization that empowers Latino youth through leadership development, community service, and educational excellence. They focus on bridging the gap between culture and education, helping students succeed academically while embracing their cultural heritage.    

• Strengthen supports for LGBTQ+ youth through partnerships with the Common Goodness Project and district-wide initiatives to create safe and inclusive environments for all students.  

We support the diverse needs and learning styles of our students through our key strategy of being innovative and flexible. In our district, we believe all students will be exceptional in their own way. We offer an array of educational and vocational options to support a diversity of life choices. A child’s post-secondary pathway may involve studying at a four-year university or a two-year community college, pursuing a technical certification, or heading directly into the workforce, among many other paths. To prepare our students, we support a technology-rich learning environment to ensure students and staff have access to relevant and effective learning tools, content and curriculum. We continue to support and integrate effective programs, such as International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).  

Top 5 Priorities  

• Continue progress toward our Climate Action Plan goals, designed by a robust community process to help our district be more sustainable. Projects this year include planning toward implementing solar arrays on five schools, thanks to a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce (DOC); installing air quality monitors inside and outside each facility as part of a wildfire smoke preparedness grant from the Environmental Protection Agency; and adding  EV charging stations at Sunnyland, thanks to a grant from DOC. We are also adding 3 new buses to our fleet as part of our typical bus replacement schedule; for the first time, we will be replacing diesel buses with more energy-efficient propane buses.  
• Open the second phase of our school-based health center at Options High School, with onsite primary care  slated to start January 2025. Continue the system of basic needs and mental  health supports for students in the updated Boutique space. Both efforts are possible thanks to student input and advocacy, state funding and broad community support.  

• Develop creative ideas with community partners to serve our students, including continued planning for a long term home for the Community Transitions program on the Whatcom Community College Campus and collaboration with the CIty of Bellingham toward finding a new location for a future Carl Cozier Elementary on/adjacent to the Civic Field complex. We are grateful to community partners for their investment in our students and school programs: examples include the generosity of WECU for housing Community Transitions for several years and to Family Care Network for creative ideas to make telemedicine accessible for students during the school day.   

• Grow our Career & Technical Education (CTE) offerings, including middle school plant science in our garden spaces and construction trades education at the high school level. This year is the planning year for an exciting new renewable energy pathway including an electric vehicle construction course, supported by a private foundation grant, and a solar learning lab at Options High School, thanks to a grant from the DOC. The Latinos in Action program is a strong example of the power of student voice, and AVID is a CTE offering we are proud to be able to continue to offer.   

• Provide free student meals for all students at 13 of our schools in the 2024-25 school year through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.  

Other Important Priorities  

• Increase ridership in our Transportation Program by adjusting routes and stops so more students have a convenient opportunity to ride our school buses.  

• Continue to advance student safety resources through expanded building security controls, digital tools, safety programs and technologies.