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                                                               THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION                                                                  

What is the Issaquah Schools Foundation?  The Issaquah Schools Foundation is a connector, transforming the passion of parents, businesses and community members into investments that help our students succeed and make Issaquah schools among the best in the state. Your gifts build academic achievement, open up limitless possibilities and launch the future success of every child in every school.

Why do we need a schools Foundation?  Funding from the State Legislature covers only the basics. Of the 295 school districts in Washington, Issaquah ranks 292nd in per-pupil state funding. Don’t our kids deserve better? Your gifts to the Foundation bridge the gap between basic state funding and what it really costs to provide the highest-quality education to our kids. The Issaquah School District cannot raise private funds. That’s where the Foundation steps in. Your tax-deductible gifts help turn every Issaquah school into a great school.

How is it different than the PTA and VIS?  PTA, VIS and the Foundation all work together to ensure the success of our schools.  PTAs fund many needs at individual schools. The Foundation provides additional support for these schools while also funds district-wide investments that one school can’t fund like new curriculum or training for teachers. VIS (Volunteers of Issaquah Schools) works to promote the passage of Issaquah School District (ISD) bond and levy ballot measures.

How does the Foundation raise money?

  • All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign August through November 
  • Nourish Every Mind Luncheon & Breakfast Events 
  • Employee Giving Campaigns (Microsoft, Boeing, United Way)
  • Grants and Corporate Support

What does the Foundation do with the money?  Your gifts to the Foundation support students when they struggle, when they excel and all times in between.  From leading-edge STEM curriculum to financial literacy, arts programs to after-school tutoring, you ensure that kids of all abilities have the support they need to navigate their own unique paths to success. Your support provides more than $1.2 million a year to schools across the district, giving students countless opportunities they can only access because of your generosity. 

At Beaver Lake Middle School, our students benefit from Foundation donor investments in these areas:

  • After School Open Library at all middle schools gives every student access to free tutoring or a supervised location to study or use the computer after school.
  • $100,000 Dedicated Fine Arts Fund for middle and high school band, orchestra, vocal, drama and arts programs.
  • Robotics Club funding at every middle and high school in the District. It is estimated that more than 75% of students participating in high school Robotics Clubs pursue careers in STEM.
  • Financial Literacy Curriculum support for 8th graders includes curriculum on personal finance topics and culminates with a field trip to the Jr. Achievement Finance Park in Auburn.
  • Healthy Youth Initiative supports mental health, substance abuse prevention and basic student needs like food and dental care.
  • WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) support.
  • VOICE Mentoring, a program that pairs caring community volunteers with students in need of academic and/or personal support. Mentors meet with students for one hour per week throughout the year with transformational results.
  • Special Services funding provides differentiated instruction for students in the LRCI and LRCII classrooms and speech and occupational therapists. This includes adaptive technology, professional development for teachers and other materials.
  • Writing Instruction Professional Development and National Board Certification Scholarships for our teachers.
  • New Teacher Classroom start-up funds support.

How can you get involved?  Please explore our website http://issaquahschoolsfoundation.org/ to learn more about the programs you make possible at your child’s school, to volunteer or to donate.  Whether you can give $5/month or $500, we welcome your donation at any level! 

Please contact BLMS Foundation Ambassador, Meredith Spencer at merb99@outlook.com  if you would like to receive more information about the work that the Foundation does.