Student Climate Projects

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Climate Friendly Public Schools

About the Program

Portland Public Schools (PPS) and the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) have partnered to create and fund the Climate Friendly Public Schools program. This program gives students the opportunity to engage in real-world climate action, community needs identification, leadership development, and project-based learning that will allow for innovative and creative solutions to climate change.

The program provides $10,000 per school each year for student-led projects, with additional funding to support staff advising and central coordination of the program. This is a five year program, set to conclude in 2029.

Eligibility: Please see our list of eligible middle schools, high schools, and K-8s.

Allowable Uses of Funding

Projects must address at least one the following categories:

Clean Energy - Projects in this category focus on renewable energy (like solar or wind) and reduce energy use in buildings (like turning off the lights, powering down appliances, or replacing old equipment with newer more efficient equipment).
Transportation Decarbonization - Projects in this category aim to reduce pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) from transportation through reducing how much our community is driving gas-powered cars.
Regenerative Agriculture & Green Infrastructure - Projects in this category help take care of the Earth and use nature to keep the environment healthy. For example, regenerative farming helps the soil stay rich and full of life, which is good for plants and animals. Green infrastructure means using things like trees, gardens, and natural spaces to soak up rainwater, clean the air, and give animals places to live.
Workforce Development for Climate Action - Projects in this category help students and community members learn about the diversity of jobs and skills that support climate action.

Contacts

Carrie Jones Bohara

Climate Justice Student Projects Coordinator

Bird Babcock

Climate Justice AmeriCorps Fellow

24-25 Climate Friendly Public Schools Projects Report

ClimateFriendly-Public-Schools_report (PDF)

24-25 Student-led Initiative

First Year Metrics

1,500+ students participated across 36 eligible schools!
Over 4,300 students were engaged through student-led climate projects
Students spent over $157,000 on their climate projects
38 Student Climate Project Advisors (SCPAs) involved and provided support for the student projects

Digital Projects Showcase

Curious about what kinds of projects students implement?

Visit our Digital Showcase, an interactive map of all PPS 24-25 student climate projects or view our 24-25 Program Report.

Digital Showcase

Project Resources

Resources to Student Climate Project Advisors and community partners working with student groups planning a climate action project, and to support any student at PPS interested in planning a climate-action project.

PPS Student-led Climate Project Playbook

Project Brainstorming

Project Parameters

Project Planning Guide

Plan and organize your project tasks, timeline, roles, and more. This guide will help you think ahead and make sure your project stays on track.
Keep your project going strong! Meet regularly with your team, stay organized, ask for help, and reflect on the process.
Tell your project story – Document your story, track your numbers, share your story, and celebrate your wins!
Explore additional project management tools to aid your planning.

How-To Guides

Purchasing Guides

Green Business Directory - This purchasing guide lists local and sustainable businesses, as well as common project items and where you might be able to find them.
Local Green Business Guide - This student-created guide includes local, sustainable places to buy materials, including an interactive map!
Have you used any of these businesses for your PCEF project? Do you know of another business that should be included? Please share your thoughts and experiences with us.
The Find Print Details for Project Spending - This outlines key information for project advisors and administrators to budget and track project expenses

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

What is JEDI? Justice means fixing unfair systems so that everyone has the same rights and opportunities. Equity is recognizing that some people need extra help or resources to have the same chances as others. Diversity values all the different kinds of people in the world, including different races, genders, backgrounds, and perspectives. Inclusion is making sure everyone feels welcome and able to share their ideas.
Climate justice means understanding that the impacts of climate change don’t affect everyone equally. Frontline communities are people who face the first and worst impacts of climate change.
- JEDI Guide for Student Climate Projects
Climate Justice Glossary - A student-friendly glossary with clear definitions of key climate justice and environmental advocacy terms.

Partners make Student Projects Possible

The Climate Justice team facilitates active partnerships between community organizations and student projects. There are many ways for organizations to collaborate with student teams, including:

Project Development Support

Ongoing, in-person student support as well as direct assistance in project design, management, and implementation. Includes:

Attend student club/class meetings
Support with project ideation and selection
Work with students on project plans, goals, and designs
Supporting project management:
- Keep students on track with deliverables and timelines
- Send emails or pick up supplies
- Support with implementation through organizational expertise or partners

Educational Support

Your organization serves as an element of a student project, i.e. you are not involved in the planning or creating of the project; you are (one part of) the project outcome. Includes:

Guest Speaker
Assembly
Climate Art Workshop
Field Trip
Brainstorm Facilitation

Execution Support

Your organization offers a key skill that supports project implementation, with a lens toward student education and participation. These are contract roles and often involve physical improvement projects. Examples:

Build a cob bench
Install a solar carport
Install a rain garden
Depave
Build an outdoor classroom
Plan and host a community clean up event to remove invasive species

Become a Student Project Partner

Does your community group or organization want to support Student Climate Projects in PPS? Complete a Partner Package form to be added to our Community Partner Directory and to share your information directly with Project Advisors and Student Teams.

Partner Packages provide student-friendly options for project support. A Partner Package Includes:

Description of Offering (3-4 sentences)
Category of Offering
Capacity (# of schools)
Time of year
Priority demographics / service area
Cost Estimate
Location

Our Team is here to help your organization connect with schools and understand PPS requirements (e.g. physical improvement project parameters, contracting requirements, etc). Please note: Every partner organization, in any capacity, needs a contract. No work may be done before a contract is signed and approved by the district.

Have questions? Reach out to studentclimateprojects@pps.net to start a conversation.

Student Climate Project Calendar 2025-2026

Date	Key Activity
Early September	Student clubs or classes begin brainstorming project ideas
November 7, 2025	Project Proposal Submissions Open
December 5, 2025	Final Project Proposals Due
January, 2026	Project Implementation Begins; funding available to schools
May 15, 2026	Deadline: All Project Spending Complete
May 22, 2026	End-of-year Reports Due

FAQs

What schools are eligible to receive this funding?

Any schools that serve grades 6-12 in the City of Portland are eligible for PCEF student funds including all Middle schools, high schools, and K-8s.
Charter schools and CBOs are not eligible for PCEF funding.

Full list of schools eligible for PCEF student project funds:

Access Academy (K-8)
Alliance High School
Astor Elementary
Beaumont Middle
Benson Polytechnic High
Beverly Cleary at Fernwood Campus
Bridger Elementary
Cesar Chavez Elementary
Cleveland High
da Vinci Arts Middle
Faubion Elementary
Franklin High
George Middle
Grant High
Gray Middle
Harriet Tubman Middle
Harrison Park Elementary
Hosford Middle
Ida B. Wells High
Jackson Middle
Jason Lee Elementary
Jefferson High
Kellogg Middle
Lane Middle
Laurelhurst
Lincoln High
Marysville K-8
McDaniel High
Metropolitan Learning Center
Mt. Tabor Middle
Ockley Green Middle
Odyssey
Pioneer
Roosevelt High
Roseway Heights Middle
Sellwood Middle
*Skyline
Sunnyside Environmental
Vernon Elementary
*West Sylvan
Winterhaven Elementary

*indicates PPS schools not within Portland city boundaries that will be connected with student climate project funds using the same process as the student climate projects but with a different funding code)

Clean Energy - Projects in this category focus on renewable energy (like solar or wind) and reduce energy use in buildings (like turning off the lights, powering down appliances, or replacing old equipment with newer more efficient equipment).
Transportation Decarbonization - Projects in this category aim to reduce pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) from transportation through reducing how much our community is driving gas-powered cars.
Regenerative Agriculture & Green Infrastructure - Projects in this category help take care of the Earth and use nature to keep the environment healthy. For example, regenerative farming helps the soil stay rich and full of life, which is good for plants and animals. Green infrastructure means using things like trees, gardens, and natural spaces to soak up rainwater, clean the air, and give animals places to live.
Workforce Development for Climate Action - Projects in this category help students and community members learn about the diversity of jobs and skills that support climate action.

Look at our PPS Student-led Climate Projects Playbook for more project ideas and to learn the ins-and-outs of planning your project.

How does our school access funds and spend funds?

The PPS Office of Climate Justice works directly with the PPS Grants Team and school site Administrative Assistants to ensure they have the necessary account codes to track and submit project expenditures.
Student Climate Project Advisors (SCPAs) must coordinate with their Administrative Assistants, Business Managers, and/or Bookkeepers to make project purchases, finalize contracts, and spend funds.