Grant A First Step In Improving Education In Washington State

Eight years ago, the Spokane School District - the largest district outside of the Puget Sound area - recognized that its system was not responsive enough to students, teachers or the community. It worked hard to adopt new policies and change structures so students and teachers were the focus. Today Spokane is recognized as a leader for its commitment to academic excellence at all levels.

And Spokane is not alone. This is a dynamic time for Washington schools. With new standards, tests, and accountability, school districts are having to adapt old practices to new demands. Expectations are high, and many are already rising to the challenge.

Last week, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation recognized eight of those Washington state school districts as model districts, with grants totaling $42 million over five years. Spokane received $16.4 million to enhance and expand the district’s current efforts and to share strategies and successes with other districts.

These grants are some of the first in a three-year, $350 million commitment that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made to helping all students achieve. The grants recognize the progress these districts have made in improving student learning and using technology with success in the classroom. They will support the district’s ongoing improvement efforts, expanding professional development opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, and increasing access to technology.

At the Foundation, we spent months studying these and other districts, looking at what is working - what is truly helping all students achieve. We’ve combed the research, data and reports; we’ve talked to scores of teachers, principals and superintendents in Washington state and around the country.

What we heard and heeded was the message that grants need to reach the classroom, that improved access to learning tools is essential for both students and teachers. These grants do that: 80 percent of each grant will be available to all schools in that district to help meet the particular needs of that school’s learning community.

These conversations informed our decisions, but the decisions were not easy. Washington is engaged in a major education improvement effort, and all school districts in the state are to be commended for their hard work to improve student learning.

We chose these eight school districts carefully, not only for their pioneering and inspirational work, but also for how they reflect the diversity of our state. Among the eight, you will find small rural districts, large suburban districts, districts in high poverty areas as well as those in more affluent communities. We hope that other school districts will view these as models, learn from them, and collaborate with them on what is working and why.

Spokane’s Libby Center is already a model for professional development. The center provides all educators in the district with up-to-date training and technology, giving teachers the tools they need to help all students achieve at high levels. This grant will help expand the reach of the Libby Center and enhance the current programs.

Washington state is Bill and Melinda Gates’ back yard; they are committed to helping this state’s schools and students. These grants are a first step.

Over the next couple of months and even years, the Foundation will continue its outreach to Washington districts, schools and teachers. Before the end of this school year, the Foundation will announce technology training grants to almost 1,000 Washington teachers and model school grants to over 100 Washington schools.

The hope is that these education grants inspire every community to come together around the common goal of helping all students achieve.