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About "Beyond the Bell"
Beyond the Bell offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Boise School District —covering the financial, operational, and policy decisions that shape our schools. Each edition provides insights on areas such as budgeting and strategic planning, student safety, and our district’s approach to teaching and learning. Whether you're an elected official, business leader, parent, district employee or community partner, Beyond the Bell keeps you informed on the issues that matter most in public education.
Editor's Note: This will be the final "Beyond the Bell" edition delivered through Constant Contact. If you are not the parent or guardian of a current Boise School District student or a district employee, please make sure to subscribe on our new communications platform, ParentSquare.
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School Starts August 12, 2025!
We’re excited to welcome students, families, and staff as we prepare for another year of learning, growth, and community. While the first day of school is still ahead, we’re already hard at work to ensure a strong start for every student. Whether you’re a parent, employee or simply a community member interested in what’s ahead for the new year, please check out our Back to School webpage.
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What Policies Have Been Updated for 2025 - 2026?
At most Board of Trustees meetings, administrators present updates, revisions or additions to Boise School District policy. To ensure our policies align with current school operations, state law, as well as parent and patron concerns, all District policies are reviewed and revised on a structured three-year rotation.
However, the Board often considers new or revised policies when the need is urgent or mandated by state law. During their July 14th meeting, the Board did review a host of policies impacted by the recent legislative session. You can review the entire slate of policies reviewed in July online.
Also of note is our new Personal Electronic Device Policy that went into effect July 1. Over the past school year, all of our secondary schools piloted school-specific cell phone policies, gathering feedback from students, families, and staff. This work—combined with survey results, research on student learning, and guidance from other districts—has shaped a revised policy that brings greater consistency and clarity across all Boise schools.
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Facilities Master Planning Now Underway
The Boise School District has launched a comprehensive Facilities Master Planning effort to ensure our schools continue to serve students and families well into the future. This process is designed to take a thoughtful look at how our schools and other facilities are currently being used, what condition they’re in, and how they can best support student learning in the years to come. The goal is to update our long-range plan that aligns with our educational mission, reflects community values, and positions our schools for success in a changing world.
Over the next several months, the district will work closely with education facility experts, community members, and school leaders to collect and analyze data on building conditions, enrollment trends, safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholder input will be a critical part of this process. Through public forums, surveys, and advisory groups, families, staff, and community members will have opportunities to weigh in on the priorities that matter most to them.
At the July board meeting, Tracy Richter with HPM Planning Services, provided trustees and the public with a deeper look at what the process will look like and how we will engage community members throughout the next few months. You can also watch Mr. Richter’s presentation to the Board on our YouTube channel (presentation begins at 13:31).
This is not just about bricks and mortar, it’s about ensuring our schools reflect our district’s commitment to equity, opportunity, and innovation. By taking the time to plan carefully and listen widely, we’re creating a roadmap for facilities that are safe, sustainable, and supportive for all students, staff, parents and neighbors. Updates on the process will be shared regularly through our website and newsletters, and we encourage everyone to stay engaged and informed as the work progresses.
| | Latest AP Results Show Great Progress for Students’ College and Career Readiness | | | | |
In 2024-25, 2,646 students took 5,211 AP exams, achieving a:
- 77% pass rate (up from 72% last year)
- 3.4 average score (up from 3.2 last year)
This growth reflects our commitment to preparing students for success beyond high school—and the incredible effort of our students, teachers, and families.
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Parent & Student Engagement Committees Prepare for Launch
The Boise School District is proud to announce the formation of its inaugural Parent Advocacy Group, a new initiative designed to strengthen trust, foster open communication, and bring diverse family perspectives directly into conversations with district leadership. You can learn more about the formation of the group and its purpose in the news release we sent in late July or on our website.
While the Parent Advocacy Group is new this year, for the last three years, our Student Advisory Committee has been collaborating with our Board of Trustees, district leadership and their fellow students to ensure student voices are heard. For more information, please visit our Student Advisory Committee webpage.
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Meet the Team Behind Our Teachers
Teachers and school-based employees are the heart and face of our district. But, who are those great educators who help our teachers and students thrive everyday? As part of our onboarding for new staff, we’ve produced a brief video introducing some of the key administrators who mentor, advise, and support our school-based employees.
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📚 Boise Schools At-A-Glance
🏫 Schools & Enrollment
- 48 neighborhood schools with open enrollment
- Full-day Kindergarten at every elementary school
- 2 District-wide Early Childhood Learning Centers
🎓 Academics & Teachers
- 72% of teachers hold a Master’s degree
- 67% of graduates pursue post-secondary education
🔧 Career & Technical Education
- 5,000+ students enrolled in Career-Technical Programs
🍎 Student Support
- Free breakfast for all students
⚽ Activities & Opportunities
- 200+ sports, clubs, and student-led organizations
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What Would You Like to Know About Your Boise Schools?
Do you have questions about our operations? Would you like a better understanding of public school funding? Curious about long-range facilities and planning? As we plan out future editions of “Beyond the Bell”, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete this brief form and we’ll do our best to address your topic in future issues.
We also maintain a rich archive of past Board of Trustee meetings and additional district operational information. Board agendas can be found online and contain not only topics discussed but also links to presentations from students, teachers and administrators on a host of school district initiatives, operations and programs. Video of regular Board meetings are available on our YouTube channel.
And for information about school activities, student and staff accomplishments, and more — please subscribe to our Boise School District newsletter.
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