We will fund programs that Encourage Academic Excellence; Support Teachers and Classrooms; and Promote Student Engagement. Working closely with the Superintendent of the Renton School District, we have established the following funding priorities and determined that these programs and needs fall within our funding guidelines. For a summary of the programs and their costs, Click Here!
More than ever, successful transition out of high school - whether it is to college, into a trade school, or directly into the workforce - requires that students be proficient in higher levels of math. Basic Algebra is the "gateway" to these higher levels, including geometry, Algebra II, trigonometry, and calculus. In keeping with the Renton School District's position that all students will excel based on the expectations placed on them, in 2009 the District eliminated all high school remedial math classes and replaced them, instead, with additional Algebra 1 classes to support those students needing the extra help. This "double-dosing" requires that each struggling student take two periods of Algebra 1, and that they give up one elective. Nearly 50% of all students entering Algebra 1 at the beginning of the 2009/2010 school year required these additional classes. Of those student who would have otherwise gone into remedial math, 54% were passing Algebra 1 with a "C" or greater at the end of the first semester. For more information, Click Here!
Early reading achievement is a strong predictor of whether or not a child will be successful throughout his or her academic career. Research indicates that children who are reading below grade level at the end of third grade will require more costly and intensive interventions in multiple academic areas as they progress through the years. They feel less connected to school and have a greater likelihood of dropping out. At the beginning of the 2008/2009 school year, only 26% of kindergarten children at the two highest need elementary schools were reading at grade level. By the end of the school year, that number skyrocketed to 84%! The grant for this program is being eliminated and our immediate goal is to raise funds to simply continue the program. Our goal, over time, will be to help the school district get the funds that they need to get this program into the remaining 11 elementary schools where there are students who also need this additional support. Program costs include alternative instructional materials and more intensive instructional support by teachers who have been specifically trained to meet the diverse learning needs of these students. For more information, Click Here!
Transition from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school is an important defining period for teenagers which can be fraught with potential adjustment problems. Research shows that successful transition is CRITICAL to a child's academic success and, ultimately, the likelihood that they will graduate. Renton School District research completed in 2006/2007 showed that drop-out rates were pervasive during these transition periods. Getting to Graduation is a comprehensive research-proven program which has been tailored to meet the specific needs of Renton School District students. For more information, Click Here!
Teacher Classroom Grants: Teachers regularly meet a variety of student and/or classroom needs accessing their personal funds. At times, it involves creative projects and sometimes it involves basic needs such as glue and markers, or purchasing a student's breakfast or lunch, or taking care of funding for a field trip because they don't want an individual student to be left out. While many organizations such as the PTSA and Renton Rotary ("Teacher of the Month") or Circle of Giving Grants, try to help with this type of need, funding does not reach every teacher in the district as a "system".
Mathematics Materials: The goal of these funds would be to ensure that the Renton School District is giving more students access to high levels of mathematics through active use of technology. Learning to use a graphing calculator gives students essential skills as they enter high school, college and work.
The Renton School District has invested $181,277.44 in TI-NSpire graphing calculators for students to use in sixth through high school mathematics courses. The TI-Nspire handheld creates a dynamic dimension for students to visualize concepts and take an engaging, interactive role in their learning. The TI-Nspire NavigatorTM System is a completely wireless classroom learning system that is designed to help educators increase students' engagement as they instantly assess student understanding.
This funding would allow the purchase of additional calculators to keep up with student enrollment, batteries for the calculators and the investment in two TI-Nspire Navigator Systems for each mathematics department.
Science Materials: The goal of this funding is to ensure that the Renton School District is giving more students greater access to these higher levels of science through active, intellectually engaging science curriculum and instruction.
The Renton School District has been a leader in science education for over 30 years. We recently completed a five year strategic plan in science that has replaced instructional materials across all grade levels. The District's new standards-based science requires the use of consumable inquiry-based lab materials at all grade levels.
The science materials needed for the Renton science kits are expensive to replace. We want to ensure that our teachers have everything they need to provide high quality learning experiences for students in science.
The Arts and Athletic programs in the Renton School District enrich students at all levels and many students are motivated in their academic pursuits because they have the opportunity to participate in these non-academic programs. As the district faces funding shortfalls, it is increasingly difficult to maintain activities outside of the core academic areas. Funding for these programs would assure the continued ability of the District to provide opportunities for students to participate in these programs.