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Bend International School presents charter renewal; leaders highlight academic gains and raise funding-equity concern
Summary
Bend International School told the Ben La Pine School Board it has shown steady academic gains and serves students who might not otherwise enroll in district schools. The presenter also said state funding flows leave BIS classrooms receiving a smaller share of the funding generated for their students and asked the board to consider equity during the MOU process.
Bend International School leaders presented their charter-renewal case to the Ben La Pine School Board on the evening of the district’s December meeting, highlighting enrollment, student demographics and recent gains on academic measures. Melissa Bondesdolakia, speaking for the school, said BIS enrolls 234 students, about 11% from outside the district, and reported increases in proficiency—an approximate 6% rise in ELA and 13% in science year over year—and consistent placement in the “high growth, high achievement” quadrant on the NWEA MAP assessment.
Bondesdolakia said BIS serves a diverse student body (about 27% BIPOC) and offers project-based, bilingual/international programming that she argued strengthens overall district…
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