Featured stories

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.

(full story) 9 Comments

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.

(full story) 18 Comments

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.

(full story) 15 Comments

“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?

(full story) 11 Comments

Size matters


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

(full story) 15 Comments

Equity and School Choice


Libertarians push the concept of school choice as a civil right. But in Portland, school choice shifts significant public education investment out of poor and minority neighborhoods, concentrates poverty, increases racial isolation, and eliminates real choice and opportunity for our most disadvantaged students.

(full story) 13 Comments

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?

(full story) 33 Comments

On the Blog

Special education law and advocacy training conference


The Autism Association of Oregon (ASO) is presenting Peter Wright of Wrightslaw in a one day special education law and advocacy training conference October 29 in Portland. Details of the program and online registration are available at the ASO Web site.

(full story) Comments open

In the news: high school redesign


(full story) Comments open

High school design preserves schools, limits transfers, seeks equity


Carole SmithIn her boldest policy proposal since taking the reigns of Portland Public Schools, Carole Smith has endorsed a high school system design that would guarantee every student a spot in a truly comprehensive high school, eliminate the ability to transfer from one neighborhood school to another, and preserve all existing high school campuses as either comprehensive neighborhood schools or magnets.

(full story) 5 Comments

High school design press conference


Carole Smith will announce her recommendation for the high school system redesign tomorrow, 10:30 am on the steps of Benson High School. Advance reports indicate the chosen design will be most similar to the “strong neighborhood schools” model (which was the strongest of the three proposed models), with school choice limited to district-wide magnet schools, charters, and alternative schools.

(full story) Comments open

More articles

Parent Union meeting by Steve Rawley, June 19, 2009 (Comments open)
In the news: another reason to question K8s by Steve Rawley, June 11, 2009 (13 Comments)
In the news: Other line items PPS could cut by Steve Rawley, June 10, 2009 (15 Comments)
Open thread: school board zones, elections, and pay by Steve Rawley, May 31, 2009 (16 Comments)
In the news: Portland Observer coverage of HS meeting by Steve Rawley, May 30, 2009 (2 Comments)
High schools: open letter to the Superintendent’s team by Nicole Leggett, May 29, 2009 (6 Comments)
In the news: foundation announces eligible schools by Steve Rawley, May 22, 2009 (9 Comments)
Election postmortem by Steve Rawley, May 20, 2009 (7 Comments)
In the news: teachers “working to the rule” by Steve Rawley, May 18, 2009 (40 Comments)
Moore: district missed opportunity for apology by Rita Moore, May 18, 2009 (Comments open)

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