PPS and the philanthro-capitalists

What do Bill Gates and Eli Broad have to do with the lack of comprehensive secondary education for Portland’s poorest students? Lots.

Money buys enrichment

Harrison Park teacher Bonnie Robb on the economics of enrichment

K-8s from a teacher’s perspective

As PPS presses forward with high school system redesign, significant problems with the K-8 transition remain unaddressed. Teacher and parent Sheila Wilcox shares her inside perspective.

High school system redesign: an (unauthorized) minority report

Analysis and recommendations in response to the proposed high school system redesign, and a Superintendent’s committee report.

The numbers paint a picture

 

Current enrollment and transfer data show a persistent pattern lost enrollment from our poorest neighborhoods due to student transfers. These same neighborhoods have almost completely lost comprehensive secondary education, even while transfer slots into comprehensive schools have virtually disappeared. See it all in full-size, living color.

“Choice” done right

There is a school district, of similar size and demographics to Portland Public Schools, with less funding per student than PPS, that manages to maintain strong and equitable neighborhood schools and a vibrant school choice program.

If they can do it, why can’t we?

Size matters

How student transfers, “small schools,” and K8s steal opportunity from Portland’s least wealthy students, and how we can make it right

The continuing history of racism in Portland Public Schools

Twenty-eight years after the Black United Front’s desegregation plan brought modest improvements in equity to non-white students, Portland’s schools have regressed into a two-tiered system, with schools more segregated than the neighborhoods they serve. What went wrong?

STARBASE reauthorized on a 4-3 vote

The Portland Public Schools board of education voted 4-3 tonight to approve another year of STARBASE, the Department of Defense’s elementary school recruiting program.

Principled “no” votes were cast by co-chair Ruth Adkins, Martin Gonzalez and Dilafruz Williams. David Wynde, Bobbie Regan, Pam Knowles and co-chair Trudy Sargent carried the resolution.

STARBASE rally TONIGHT!

After a delay to get more information, the school board is once again poised to approve the STARBASE program, which sells the military access to fourth and fifth graders for a couple hundred thousand dollars. The rally is at 6pm Monday at district headquarters, 501 N. Dixon Street.

FREE Public Education… But Please Donate at Roosevelt

POWER Academy at Roosevelt had $24,962 in Title I funds remaining at the end of the 2008/09 school year, but they ask for their majority free and reduced lunch students to pay fees, unlike wealthier schools.

Did PPS Waste $4,964,861 on an Ineffective Math and Science Program?

Why did PPS discard an effective, inexpensive science and math program? Why do they favor of a weak, non-sustainable, military-funded science and math program?