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Trades Exploration

BEF invests in career-connected learning activities that help 75 middle schoolers learn about construction, auto tech, and manufacturing CTE programs available in Beaverton high schools. As a result, these 7th and 8th graders are better prepared to move onto high school and many discover new career aspirations. High school students benefit as well as they provide peer-to-peer learning opportunities as they show off the skills they have learned and talk about career and college plans after graduation.
Middle School Students learning welding during Trades Exploration workshops

At A Glance:

BEF Investment: $7,500.00

75

Students explored the trades and CTE pathways

9

Field trips to Auto Tech, Construction, and Manufacturing CTE program sites

Middle schoolers don’t have the same opportunities to explore career pathways that high schoolers do. To encourage career related experiences beginning in middle school, the Trades Exploration Program served 75 students across three middle schools to give them hands-on experiences with high school Career Technical Education (CTE) sites.

Students took part in a series of workshops throughout the year during which they learned about construction, auto tech, and manufacturing careers. The goal of the program is to show these students industry-related skills, safety, teamwork, and problem-solving within each of the industries. Students gained a better understanding of what options are available in high school and how these programs align with various trades and non-college pathways to future success.

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My only question is when is the next exploration? This is way overdue in public education, we are so grateful for this experience.

Parent

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My daughter won't stop talking about welding! She’s as excited as I have ever seen her!

Parent

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I wish there was something like this for my son years ago!

Parent

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I have never seen my students more engaged. When they return from one of their Trades Explorations, they share what they have made and what they did all day with their peers.

Teacher

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Trades Exploration is a game changer in terms of how our students consider the trades as a possible career path. In middle school students do not often think about their future careers, bringing their hands to work makes all the difference in their world.

Teacher

Positive Early Results for After-School Academic Support

In the 2025-26 academic year, Beaverton Education Foundation is investing in after school academic support for English language learner students at 4 Beaverton School District Title I elementary schools. Each school is taking a slightly different approach, and the mid-year results are all pointing toward successful outcomes for these 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.
Students at Aloha High School make Doggie Dots dog biscuits

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Middle School Extended Day Programs

Now in its 15th year, the Safe and Sound for Student Success (S4) program offered by BEF continued its vital work in the 2024-25 school year. Eight middle schools participated, serving 1,184 middle school students with an extended school day with access to extracurricular coupled with academic accountability.

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