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Bellevue board approves 2026–27 annual plan, launches EdTech design team to study AI and device policy
Summary
The Bellevue School District board approved its 2026–27 annual plan after a detailed Future Ready progress report, endorsing three focus goals (financial stability; math and literacy; Future Ready index), elevating special education as a foundation goal, and creating an EdTech design team to address laptops, phone policy and AI resilience.
The Bellevue School District board on April 16 approved the district's 2026–27 annual plan after a detailed presentation on the Future Ready initiative and related student pathways.
Superintendent Kelly Armaki told the board the plan centers on three focus goals: restoring financial stability, improving math and literacy outcomes, and implementing a Future Ready index that shifts schools from simply tracking access to measuring impact. Armaki said the district's projected year-end fund balance improved from a November projection of $1.9 million to $9.5 million, but that the unassigned fund balance remains roughly $3.2 million against a policy target of about $20 million, and the district will continue to rely on capital fund borrowing.
The board also elevated special education to a foundation goal and agreed to a revised school improvement plan (SIP) timeline intended to reduce staff workload: schools will submit draft SIPs by the end of June and may finalize them by August. Sarah Clark, BEA treasurer, had urged the board during public comment to allow teams to finish SIP work during the summer to ease end-of-year pressure on teachers.
A major new action in the plan is the creation of an EdTech design team charged with reviewing device strategy, classroom device deployment, phone policies, and "AI resilience" for students and staff. Board members said the team should recommend practical, implementable steps rather than only study options.
The board discussed equity measures repeatedly during the meeting. Presenters acknowledged persistent gaps in advanced-course access and outcomes for English learners and students with disabilities and said the Future Ready index will be used to target equity-driven interventions at the school level. School-based measures will include focused indicators such as ninth-grade on-track and chronic absenteeism.
The motion to approve the annual plan passed by voice vote. Board members said they will monitor implementation, data reporting, and staff workload impacts as the plan is rolled out.
The presentation and vote follow months of district work to design the index and gather school- and district-level data; the district asked schools to begin drafting SIPs in spring to allow course correction before finalizing plans in August.
