Encouraging young scientists at Beaver Acres ES
“You’re coming on my favorite week,” Instructional Coach Randi Little shared to a small group of us visiting Beaver Acres to see the new After School Science Club. “Last week the students worked on designing their towers, this week they start building them.” And, that wasn’t all that was happening during Science Club; students also […]
Expanding Access to Music
Whether it’s a repaired violin or a summer spent learning alongside other musicians, music gives students confidence, connection, and a place to belong. BEF investments in instrument repair and summer band camp expand opportunities for students to explore music.
Piloting Middle School “Before School” Programming
To ensure middle schoolers start the school day off strong, BEF is piloting a before-school program at Mountain View Middle School to give students a little extra structure to thrive.
Signal to Noise (S2N) Film Festival: 25 Years of Student-Led Storytelling
For 25 years, the Signal to Noise (S2N) Film Festival has provided a powerful platform for Beaverton’s young creatives to share their voices, take artistic risks, and see their visions come to life on the big screen. S2N isn’t just a film screening event—it is a launchpad for future media professionals.
Empowering Students Through BEF Kids Count Grants
What are Kids Count Grants? These BEF awards fund initiatives that spur innovative learning opportunities by extending the school day or providing resources during the summer to avoid the “summer slide” and return students to school ready to learn in the fall.
Harnessing the Sun: 8th Graders Engineer a Sustainable Future
Beaverton eighth graders are diving into the world of renewable energy through a new hands-on science unit designed to bridge the gap between classroom concepts and real-world career paths. This project-based learning experience empowers students to explore the impacts of energy production while building the technical skills needed for Oregon’s growing clean energy workforce.
Transforming Middle Schoolers’ Success in Math
To ensure middle schoolers aren’t left behind by the label “bad at math,” BEF is transforming math intervention into a hands-on journey of discovery through interactive tools and targeted support to build lasting academic confidence.
Results are in for After-School Academic Support Programs
In the 2025-26 academic year, Beaverton Education Foundation invested in after school academic support for English language learners at 4 Beaverton School District Title I elementary schools. Year-end results point to successful outcomes for these 500 students.
STEM in the classroom
BEF’s Building STEAM 4 All Initiative teams up with the district and local businesses to engage students in hands-on, experiential learning. Thanks to the support of Analog Devices and First Tech Federal Credit Union, additional tech learning tools are now available to teachers through the Innovation Lending Library. This library is available to all schools across the district, especially in weekly “tech specials” taught at the elementary schools level. In January, tech instructors came together for a special morning of professional development and to learn about the new equipment available in the Lending Library.
Aloha High School Student Run Business: Doggie Dots
What started with a single social media post to a BEF fundraising site has resulted in video and television coverage, highlighting Doggie Dots at the Washington County K9 Trials and nearly $35,000 in donations from supporters around the world.