[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 121 (Thursday, September 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11034-S11035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BELLEVUE INTERNATIONAL'S INNOVATION IN EDUCATION AWARD

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, today is National Student Day. In honor of 
this day, I would like to congratulate an outstanding group of students 
from my home state. Recently, the SAT scores for Washington state's 
graduating classes of 1999 were released. At the top of the public 
school list were the graduates of the International School of Bellevue, 
averaging 601 on verbal and 590 on math. Both scores surpassed the 
national averages by almost one-hundred points.
  In my visits to hundreds of schools across Washington state, I have 
seen the benefits of countless innovative reforms and programs. The 
International School of Bellevue is an example of what local educators 
can do when they are given the freedom and flexibility to create new 
and better ways to educate.
  The International School is a public school that was created 
approximately eight years ago by highly innovative teachers from the 
Bellevue School District. The founders' vision was to create a school 
in which a student would be placed in the classroom based on his or her 
ability--not his or her age. The founders also wanted to create an 
atmosphere in which each student would maintain close relationships 
with the teachers, and would gain clear understanding of how our 
country fits into today's world.
  At the Bellevue International School, each student is required to 
take seven classes each year which include humanities, international 
studies, math, science, a foreign language, fine arts, and fitness. 
Even though this school serves grades 6-12, there are not specific 
grade levels. Each student takes his or her courses at the student's 
own performance level, starting at level one and ranging up to level 
seven for each of the seven courses.
  The students are also encouraged to spend one month abroad at one of 
the International School's sister schools. While abroad, the students 
attend classes and are treated as regular students of their guest 
schools.
  In order to attend the International School, students are not 
required to take an exam, submit test scores or previous grades. Any 
student with the desire and motivation to attend this school can submit 
his or her name into a lottery out of which names of the new students 
are chosen.
  The Principal of the International School said that her students, 
``are not necessarily the smartest kids, but they have a terrific work 
ethic, converse with their teachers, and are highly resourceful and 
responsible for themselves and for others.''
  I applaud the International School's class of 1999 for its 
magnificent scores

[[Page S11035]]

on the SAT. I also applaud the rest of the student body for its passion 
for learning and for taking advantage of this tremendous opportunity. I 
know that each student who graduates from the International School will 
leave with an outstanding education and greater understanding of our 
country, our world, and his or her place in it.
  The International School's impressive performance on the SAT 
demonstrates that when given the flexibility to create a program, local 
educators will succeed. I believe that we must give control of federal 
education dollars to the states and local school districts because 
those who work with out children on a daily basis--their parents, 
teachers, principals, superintendents, and school board members--best 
understand the needs of our children and should have the most 
significant role in setting education policy and priorities in our 
schools.
  Mr. President, I might be a bit disingenuous in sharing this praise 
with you if I were not to point out that my oldest grandchild, my 
granddaughter, Betsy Nortz, just won the lottery last spring and 
started last week as a sixth grader at Belleview International. 
Already, in just a few days, she reports great interest in the 
intellectual challenges to which she is subjected. She and I and her 
parents look forward to a fine career in the single school, I believe, 
in the State of Washington in the public system with the highest SAT 
scores.
  The students and educators at the International School of Bellevue 
deserve our recognition and I hope my colleagues will join me in 
applauding their achievements.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative assistant proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gorton). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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