The new elementary science curriculum for Issaquah has been saved.

Three months ago, raising half a million dollars for the Issaquah School District’s new science lessons seemed at best a daunting task.

Wednesday the Issaquah Schools Foundation and PTSA announced they were able to raise $438,000 by its deadline.

“It’s an example of what can happen for kids when communities rally together,” said Robin Callahan, executive director of ISF.

Although the money falls short of the goal, the district was able to negotiate lower prices for the curriculum and plans to develop some of the lesson plans in house.

Last year the state adopted new science standards for elementary schools, and began testing kids on those standards.

However, state lawmakers didn’t provide money for districts to buy needed curriculum.

Originally, the Issaquah School District had planned to use money from its reserve fund to pay for the science plan, but unprecedented mid-year budget cuts ate too deeply into the fund.

The district decided it could only afford $700,000 of the $1.2 million cost, enough for the first of three domains. It went to PTSAs and ISF to help raise the remaining money in March.

“It definitely lit a fire under all of us,” Callahan said.

An ISF luncheon helped ISF raise about $300,000 for the curriculum, in addition to covering all of its other program costs.

PTSAs throughout the district began organizing fundraisers and chipping in surplus money.

While ISF and the PTSAs have worked side by side, this is the first time they’ve partnered on a campaign, Callahan said. “This is really the first partnership where we’ve really linked arms.”

If all goes as planned, elementary teachers will received all three domains of curriculum in the fall.