Special Education Listening Sessions

Connecting with our community to shape the future of student services.

Why We Did It

The primary purpose of the listening sessions was to gather direct, honest feedback from those most impacted by our services: our staff and families. We aimed to understand the current strengths and challenges within our special education programs to ensure that future decisions are informed, thoughtful, and truly responsive to the community's needs. By creating a platform for open dialogue, we sought to build trust, foster collaboration, and ensure that voices from every school were included in the process.

What Happened

Throughout the spring, we conducted listening sessions at every school in the district. These events were safe spaces for participants to share their experiences candidly. In May, we also convened the first-ever Community Conversation to focus on developing and strengthening inclusive practices.

Project Timeline: Spring 2025

December 2024 - March 2025

Project Announcement: The listening tour was announced, scheduling for K-8 sessions began, and all feedback was compiled, transcribed, and shared with schools.

April 2025

Listening sessions at K-8 and 6-8 schools were held, with feedback compiled, transcribed, and summaries posted.

May 2025 - July 2025

Portland Public Schools held its first Community Conversation on May 31st focusing on Inclusive Practices. Parent and Family Listening Sessions held in June and July with summaries posted.

June 2025 - August 2025

Middle School, MPG, and High School sessions are finalized; feedback summaries are posted. Key themes are released, with advisory groups now co-creating action steps.

Data, Themes & Next Steps

Action Plan: Implementation 2025-26

The insights gathered from our community are now being translated into a concrete action plan for the 2025-26 school year. Advisory groups are co-creating the next steps to ensure our improvements are meaningful and sustainable.

Learn More About the Action Plan