BAINBRIDGE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FAQs and LINKS

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need a Schools Foundation?

 

Ceilings on Public Funds for Education

  • In 1979, our state legislature put a ceiling on the amount of money a school district can levy to supplement public education dollars.  The law limits Bainbridge Island to 24% of the state and federal funding received for education.  Other comparable school districts can levy up to 32%.  
  • Under current law, local schools taxes do not increase as assessed property values or taxes increase. 
  • Bainbridge Island high-income population makes our school district ineligible to qualify for other sources of State funding such as food programs and transportation.

 

National and State Rankings:

  • The Bainbridge Island School District is in the lowest 7% of Washington State school districts in per pupil funding.  Out of 296 school systems in Washington State, Bainbridge Island is 276th. 
  • Washington State ranks 43rd lowest in the nation in per pupil funding and has, on average, the 46th highest-class sizes in the nation.
  • The National Center of Education Statistics ranks Washington 46th among 50 states in student teacher ratios and 46th in the amount of funding on K-12 education.

 

Increasing Expectations

  • We are asking students to meet very high academic expectations with a 27-year old finance system that has never been aligned to adequately fund the high performance mandates of Washington State’s 1993 Education Reform Act.
  • The state and federal consequences that districts face if their students do not pass Washington state education assessments (WASL) by 2008  are severe, including a loss of federal funding which totals about 9 percent of a district’s revenue.  In order to graduate from high school, students must pass these WASL exams.
  • Schools cannot do the important job of educating our children alone. They need their communities and families to help provide children with great teachers and an outstanding education. Community donations benefit the entire school district well beyond what is possible through local, state and federal appropriations.

 

The future of public K-12 education depends on continued private funding, especially in Washington State.  Bainbridge Schools Foundation is prepared to meet this challenge for the future of our children’s education, with the support of our local community.

 

Links

Bainbridge Island School District: www.bainbridge.wednet.edu

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: www.k12.wa.us

Bainbridge Community Foundation: www.bainbridgecommunityfoundation.org