Message on Completion of Work on Phase 2 of Enrollment and Program Balancing
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Dear PPS Community,
Last week, the Southeast Guiding Coalition (SEGC) — a group of parents, community member volunteers and principals commissioned by the PPS Board of Education – held their final meeting to select a proposal for opening Harrison Park MS and improving enrollment across several SE schools. They voted to recommend the program location and boundary changes described in more detail below. Their proposal will now go to Deputy Superintendent Claire Hertz, who will make a recommendation to the PPS Board of Education by April 29th. The Board will discuss her recommendation on May 10th, and will vote on May 24th. All changes approved by the Board will begin in Fall 2023.
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Read more
What Could Change?
- Harrison Park K-8 would convert to a middle school, and its current K-5 students would attend a new elementary school at the Clark building (the current home of Creative Science School). In addition to these neighborhood students, Harrison Park MS would be made up of neighborhood students from Vestal and Atkinson attendance areas, and Chinese Immersion students from the Harrison Park and Woodstock programs.
- Creative Science School would relocate to Bridger K-5 and merge with the existing neighborhood program there.
- The Spanish Immersion program at Bridger would relocate to Lent K-5, which would become a whole-Immersion school with guaranteed admission for the current Lent neighborhood. Students in the Lent neighborhood who do not attend the Spanish program would attend Marysville K-5, instead.
- While there are no perfect enrollment numbers to ensure that students have access to a range of electives and support services, the SEGC was asked to find ways to have elementary school enrollment above 270 students and middle school enrollment above 500 students, particularly at schools that serve many students of color. The proposed plan would shift the Woodstock neighborhood and a portion of the Sellwood neighborhood to the Lane attendance area, strengthening enrollment at the smallest middle school in the region. Additional boundary changes involving Woodstock, Lewis, Arleta, Marysville and Glencoe elementary schools would increase enrollment at Creston, Vestal, Whitman and Woodmere elementary schools..
- Kellogg Middle School, which just opened this year, would also see changes from the proposal. The blocks closest to Kellogg would now be part of its attendance area, and the Spanish Immersion program at Mt. Tabor MS would relocate to Kellogg, consolidating all Spanish Immersion in the region at a single middle school. Kellogg would be too large with these additions, so the proposal also moves the Creston neighborhood out of Kellogg and into the Hosford attendance area. Kellogg would likely still have the highest middle school enrollment in the region, which was a serious concern for the SEGC.
How to Learn More About the Proposal
You can find proposal details by viewing this overview map and assignment graphic, as well as detailed maps for each elementary and middle school impacted by potential change. A chart shows the estimated enrollment at each school if the changes were fully in effect this year, and in the 2025-26 school year, as well as the impacts for key racial and ethnic groups. These estimates are for reference only, as the Board will decide whether to allow students to finish at their current schools or accelerate the boundary and program changes. You can view all materials on our website.
Once the Board decides on the changes, planning will begin to ensure future transportation, staffing and community support and other implementation needs are in place by the start of the 2023-24 school year.
Share Your Thoughts
The Deputy Superintendent and School Board continue to gather input from stakeholders who may be affected by the changes. The SEGC noted that there is still room for improving the plan. Please use this survey to give your input on the proposal.
The SEGC Process
This proposal comes at the tail end of a great amount of work from the dedicated PPS community. The SEGC met over the two years to develop a plan for enrollment and program balancing in Southeast Portland. The process was disrupted due to the pandemic and required virtual meetings throughout. The work was divided into two parts, with Phase One providing an initial feeder pattern for Kellogg Middle School. For Phase Two, the Board asked the SEGC to develop a plan to balance enrollment, optimize use of facilities, and support equitable access to programs and services, including:
- Attendance area and special program assignments for Harrison Park Middle School
- A plan to relocate K-5 students and programs currently served at Harrison Park
- A plan to increase enrollment at Lane Middle School
The coalition was advised to work within a specific set of schools, and given guidelines for focus option and language immersion programs. During the course of its work, the SEGC weighed extensive feedback PPS gathered from community members, advice from PPS academic and enrollment experts, and data on the projected impact of different solutions. In all, the SEGC considered 17 proposals and evaluated each through a racial equity lens—focusing especially on Black and Native students.
PPS is very grateful for the contributions of the Southeast Guiding Coalition and all community members who participated in this challenging process to help build strong schools for all our students.
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Phase 2 Draft Proposals
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Proposal Draft A
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Graphic representation:
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Summary Stats
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Draft A Maps
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Proposal Draft B
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Summary Stats
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Draft B Maps
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Proposal Draft C
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Graphic representation:
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Translated versions of above documents will be available soon
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Proposal Draft D
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D Series Analyses:
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Proposal Draft E
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Other E Draft Series Documents
E Series Analysis
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Proposal Draft F
Click image below to see details of proposal draft F-1, F-2 and F-3
Proposal Draft F-3
Written Summary
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Draft Proposal G
Summary for Draft Proposal G-1 and G-2 (click image to read)
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Draft Proposal G-1
Feeder Pattern
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Feeder Pattern
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Harrison Park Facilities Preparation
The PPS Office of School Modernization team is now working to convert Harrison Park from a K-8 into a full middle school. Construction begins in the summer of 2022 and will take place in three phases over the next few years. To learn more about the work please visit the Harrison Park project webpage.
Creative Science Q&A
As part of Phase 2 of Enrollment & Program Balancing, Harrison Park will convert from a K-8 to a middle school, and its K-5 students will move into the Clark campus, which currently houses Creative Science School. To learn more about Creative Science and the proposed relocation sites for the program, please read the Q&A.
Southeast Guiding Coalition Schedule
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Work for Phase 2, which is focused on PK-5 enrollment, got underway on May 27, with a second meeting scheduled for June 17. After a summer break, work started again in September.
Next Meeting
Recent Meetings
Archive of Materials from Completed Meetings
Phase 2, PK-5 Focus
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February 17 Meeting Materials
Review community and School Board input. Decide on a final draft recommendation through consensus process
Meeting notice (all languages)
Recommendations from SEGC members
Qualitative charts for responses
Tallies/Graphs for responses to quantitative questions (ie. votes)
Document with responses to the open-ended questions
Full data spreadsheet -
February 8-10 Work Session Materials
Work Sessions
February 10 Meeting Notice (all languages)
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February 3 Meeting Materials
Boundary and full proposal decisions
Boundary and feeder pattern teams present recommendations to the full SEGC. Decide on a final draft recommendation through consensus process.
Meeting notice (all languages)
Willamette room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptClackamas room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptColumbia room
Meeting video
Chat transcript -
January 20 Meeting Materials
Boundary Focus
Boundary and feeder pattern teams present draft ideas to the full SEGC. Refine and narrow draft boundary and feeder pattern ideas through consensus process.
Meeting notice (all languages)
Main slideshow
Meeting video
Miro notesE1 & E2 Program Placement
Meeting video
Chat transcriptE1 & E2 Boundary Discussion
Meeting video
Chat transcript -
January 13 Meeting Materials
Meeting agenda
Mainslideshow
Meeting minutes
SEGC Homework
MS Feeder Pattern Comparison
Letter to SEGC from Bridger PTA
Enrollment Update Chart
Meeting videoWillamette room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptClackamas room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptColumbia room
Video unavailable
Chat transcript -
January 6 Meeting Materials
Program Decisions
Small groups present recommendations to the full SEGC, who decide on special program locations and configurations through consensus process. Begin small group review of boundaries and feeder patterns.
Meeting notice (all languages)
Willamette room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptColumbia room
Meeting material unavailable (technical issues)Clackamas room
Meeting video
Chat transcirpt -
December 15 Meeting Materials
Program Focus
Review community and School Board input.
Begin narrowing proposals by focusing on special program locations and configurations.Meeting notice (all languages)
Main slideshow
Main meeting video
Miro notes
Meeting minutesWillamette Room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptColumbia Room
Meeting video
Chat transcriptClackamas Room
Meeting video
Chat transcript -
December 2 Meeting Materials
Community engagement update
Decide on scenarios for community engagement
Review impact to BIPOC and other groups
Narrow scenario set through consensus exerciseMain slideshow
Main meeting videoWillamette Room
• Meeting video
• Miro notes
• Chat transcriptColumbia Room
• Meeting video
• Miro notes
• Chat transcriptClackamas Room
• Meeting video
• Miro notes
• Chat transcript -
November 18 Meeting Materials
Review community and School Board input
Refine scenarios
Suggest modifications to scenarios
Review impact to BIPOC and other groupsMain meeting video
Willamette room video
Columbia room video
Clackamas room video -
November 4 Meeting Materials
Community engagement update
Decide on scenarios for community engagement through consensus exercise
Work on impact statements for community engagementMeeting agenda
Main slideshow presentation
Q&A
Rationale
Breakout 1 and 3
Breakout 2a
Breakout 2b
Breakout 2c
Zoom chat transcript
Clackamas room chat
Columbia room chat
Willamette room chat
Meeting minutes -
October 30 Meeting Materials
Scenario Deep Dive
Community engagement update
Refine starter scenarios
Review impact to BIPOC and other groups
Narrow scenario set through consensus exercise
Suggest modifications to remaining scenariosPublic meeting notice
Español| Tiếng Việt| 中文| Русский| SoomaaliBreakout room notes
Clackamas
Willamette
Columbia -
October 28 Meeting Materials
Receive starter scenarios and begin analysis
Small group workMeeting presentation
Main slideshowBreakout room notes
Large Group
2nd Breakout session All Breakouts
1st Breakout sessions All Breakouts -
October 7 Meeting Materials
Receive and respond to:
1) BRIC listening and learning report
2) staff direction for CSS and DLI programs
3) fall enrollment counts and potential impactMeeting agenda
Presentation
Summary of September BIPOC Listening and Learning Sessions
PPS SE Middle Grades phone survey summary and insights
PPS SE Middle Grades expanded phone survey
Zoom Chat
Q&A document
Meeting minutes -
September 23 Meeting Materials
Meeting agenda
Community Feedback 1-pager
Main slideshow
Meeting minutesBreakout room recordings:
Willamette Room
Recording 1
Recording 2
NotesClackamas Room
Recording 1
NotesColumbia Room
Recording 1
Recording 2
Notes -
June 17 Meeting Materials
Phase 2 Learn Session
Meeting notice
Español |Tiếng Việt |中文 |Soomaali |РусскийMeeting agenda
Phase 2 presentation
Charter feedback
May 27 meeting evaluation -
May 27 Meeting Materials
Phase 1: Middle Grades Focus
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January 14 Meeting Materials
Phase 1 Debrief
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Main slideshow
Meeting packet
Meeting minutes
Clackamas breakout room video
Columbia breakout room video
Willamette breakout room video
Feedback Jamboard on Creston options:
• Clackamas room
• Columbia room
• Willamette room -
December 17 Meeting Materials
Final Phase 1 Recommendation
Recommendation packet
Español | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | Русский | SoomaaliClick to see:
Meeting agenda
Evaluation for Dec. 10 meeting
Minutes for Dec. 10 meeting
Recommendation appendix
Transportation document for Kellogg and feeder schools
Zoom chat transcript for Dec. 10
Main slideshow
Clackamas breakout room video
Columbia breakout room video
Willamette breakout room video -
December 10 Meeting Materials
Scenario Development and Refinement Session
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Evaluation for Dec. 3 meeting
Minutes for Dec. 3 meeting
Kellogg recommendation options
Kellogg feeder options map
Kellogg timeline
Main slideshow
DLI and equitable access brief
Zoom chat transcript for Dec. 3 -
December 3 Meeting Materials
Scenario Development and Refinement Session
• Click for meeting link and call-in numbers for interpretation
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Main slideshow
Kellogg recommendation options
SE 6-8 grade enrollment
Video of meeting -
November 19 Virtual Open House Materials
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Open House slideshow
Open House website
Open House summary report to Board and SEGCSurvey responses:
• What people like about proposal
• What concerns people about proposal
• What people want to share with SEGC
• Raw survey resultsZoom chat transcripts:
• Organized by themes
• Raw transcriptLanguage-specific open house notes (in English):
• Vietnamese
• Chinese/Mandarin
• SpanishVideo recordings, main sessions:
• English
• Vietnamese
• Spanish
• Chinese
(Note: interpreters only in Russian, Somali sessions)Video recordings, breakout rooms:
• Room 1
• Room 2
• Room 3
• Room 5
• Room 6
• Room 7
• Room 8
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November 17-18 Focus Groups Materials
Focus Group Sessions
Session notes (translated into English when applicable)
• Vietnamese
• Somali
• Spanish
• Russian (notetaker 1), Russian (notetaker 2)
• Chinese (notetaker 1), Chinese (notetaker 2)
• Teacher survey
• Student survey -
November 12 Meeting Materials
Scenario Development and Refinement Session
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
SEGC meetings evaluation
Phone survey results
Phone survey insights, summary
November 5 meeting minutes
November 5 Zoom chat transcript
Main slideshow
SEGC goals and emerging themes
Scenario 11 feeder path graphic
Video of meeting
Data guide
November 12 Zoom chat transcript -
November 5 Meeting Materials
Scenario Development and Refinement Session
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Data guide
Scenario summary
October 29 meeting minutes
Main slideshow
Video of meeting -
October 29 Meeting Materials
Scenario Development and Refinement Session
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Feeder path scenarios
October 22 meeting minutes
Online survey summary
Phone survey draft report
Scenario workshop slideshow
Video of meeting -
October 15 Meeting Materials
Check-in and Calibration -- Surfacing Themes to Cohesion
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Revised scenarios
Breakout session notes and scenarios, Oct. 8
Springboard Proposal feedback
Springboard Proposal Q&A
Main slideshow
Video of meeting -
October 8 Meeting Materials
Introduction to the springboard option and start of coalition workshop
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Sept. 24 meeting notes
Springboard Proposal packet
Five new scenarios packet
Springboard Proposal Q&A
Springboard Proposal feedback
Video of meeting
Main slideshow
Dual Language Immersion slides
Orientation & Data 101
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September 17 Meeting Materials
Racial Equity and Social Justice
Click to see:
Meeting details and agenda
Notes, maps, comments, materials from meeting
Video of meeting
Meeting minutes -
September 24 Meeting Materials
Introduction to data, maps, and the Phase 1 springboard option
Click to see:
Meeting agenda
Data packet
Springboard Proposal first draft
Slideshow presentation
Video of meeting
Notes from breakout sessions
Final Springboard Proposal
Meeting minutes -
September 10 Meeting Materials
Orientation to virtual meeting platform
Introduction to the enrollment and program balancing processClick to see:
Meeting details and agenda
Virtual Orientation Slideshow presentation
Video of meeting
Meeting minutes
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Overview
Portland Public Schools has launched a multi-year process to develop a plan to balance student enrollment and programs across our district, which serves nearly 50,000 students in 81 schools. Enrollment and Program Balancing uses both a data-driven analysis process and community input to address needs such as equity and inclusion, transportation, facilities constraints, and much more.
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Why is PPS facilitating an enrollment balancing process?
Update: Because of the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts on PPS and district communities, the process in 2020 will focus on:
- Enrolling Kellogg Middle School
- Identification of a second comprehensive middle school in Southeast
- Conversion of current K-8 schools to K-5
Original answer:
- To help support the eventual redesign of PPS Middle School programs that includes reconfiguration of identified K-8 neighborhood schools to K-5 elementary schools and 6-8 new comprehensive middle schools while maintaining regional K-8 school options to support program pathway continuity (for example: IB PYP to MYP and dual immersion language pathways).
- Optimize use of facilities at PK-12 to address under-enrollment and over enrollment, and to begin phasing out portable classrooms when possible to create connected, safer schools.
- Minimize program co-locations of facilities between co-located programs and neighborhood schools at K-5, K-8 and 6-8 schools.
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Read FLO Analytics' Baseline Assessment
The PPS Enrollment and Program Balancing Advisory Committee has been working with FLO Analytics to guide our enrollment and program balancing process. As part of the work, we asked FLO to conduct a baseline assessment of Portland Public Schools’ enrollment, programs, facilities, and student demographics. This information is the baseline data required to develop a district-wide framework to guide both short and long-term decision making, as it relates to enrollment and program balancing.
You can see the full report by clicking on the image above. This report provides an essential and comprehensive understanding of the District’s data so that recommendations can be done with thoughtful intent.
Previous Updates
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Enrollment & Program Balancing: Phase 2 Work to Bring Changes to DLI, Focus Option and Neighborhood Programs
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Dear PPS Community,
The second phase of Enrollment and Program Balancing work is about enter a key juncture, and we want to share with you the proposals we will look to enact, as well as issues that have surfaced during the process that we will address.
You're Invited!
In February, the PPS Board of Education charged staff to work with the Southeast Guiding Coalition (SEGC) and accomplish several goals:
- Convert Harrison Park from a K-8 to full middle school and create feeder patterns for it
- Find a site for Harrison Park’s K-5 students
- Increase enrollment at Lane Middle School
The program balancing phase of SEGC and the proposed moves to balance enrollment exacerbated the current inequities we are experiencing in some of our K-5 dual language immersion (DLI) programs that share a campus at a neighborhood program (known as co-locating). Through feedback from families and staff, we found that co-locating DLI and neighborhood schools divided staffing and resources and impacted the ability to fully support emergent bilingual students. To address these inequities, we are proposing a whole school DLI model. In Southeast Portland, where Enrollment and Program Balancing is currently underway, this change will primarily impact two languages:
- Chinese, for which a whole-school DLI program could be located at Bridger or Woodstock
- Spanish, with whole-school programs at Lent or Bridger
The whole-school DLI model will eventually impact the rest of the schools in the district. It will be the model adopted for K-5 schools, as Enrollment and Program Balancing work moves to other areas in coming years. DLI programs that do not have enough students for a whole-school model, such as Russian and Vietnamese, will remain co-located for now.
The DLI model will look different at the 6-8 level. Language learning and acquisition experiences will complement the work being done at the middle school level.
Additionally, Creative Science K-8 School will relocate from the Clark campus and become a focus option/neighborhood school, following a model in use at Sunnyside (environmental) and Buckman (arts). Proposed sites are Woodstock and Arleta. This will allow Clark to become the home for K-5 students from nearby Harrison Park.
To ensure we reach our overarching goal that "every student has a robust academic experience in each school," we have targeted a minimum enrollment of 500 students per middle school, and 270 students at each K-5 school. Those numbers, we believe, will lead to more equitable programming that includes enrichments and core academics. Boundary changes between neighborhood schools will be proposed to help achieve these goals.
There are still plenty of details to work out, starting at today’s SEGC meeting. We also will have robust engagement opportunities coming soon. Proposal and community input details are posted on the Enrollment and Program Balancing webpage. The final board decision on boundaries, enrollment and program locations will be made in February.
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Board Approves Enrollment and Program Balancing Boundaries for 2021-22 School Year
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We want to give you a final update on Enrollment and Program Balancing decisions that will go into effect in the 2021-22 school year in Southeast Portland. These decisions were finalized at the January 26 Board of Education meeting.
By a 5-2 vote, the Board approved Resolution 6236, which lays out the enrollment boundaries for PPS schools in Southeast Portland in advance of the opening of the modernized Kellogg Middle School in the fall. The decision completes the Phase 1 work of the Southeast Guiding Coalition.
Under the approved enrollment boundaries, the neighborhood programs at Arleta, Marysville, Creston and Lent will convert from their kindergarten-to-8th grade (K-8) structure to a K-5 structure. Students in grades 6-8 in those schools will move to Kellogg starting in the 2021-22 school year.
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Richard Smith Will Lead Re-Opening Kellogg Middle School as Principal
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When Kellogg Middle School re-opens in the fall, veteran educator Richard Smith will lead the effort as principal. Smith, who has been principal of Lent K-8 School since 2018, assumes his new position immediately to get a jump on the myriad of details involved in the opening of the fully modernized campus.
The opening the Kellogg is the driving force behind the current Enrollment and Program Balancing work being done for schools in Southeast Portland. Details of that work are available on this page.
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January 22 Update on Enrollment and Program Balancing Proposal for Southeast Portland School
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Dear PPS Families and Staff,
We want to update you on changes we have made to the Enrollment and Program Balancing proposal for Southeast Portland schools. The initial proposal (see a summary), drafted after months of Southeast Guiding Coalition meetings, was presented to the Board of Education at its January 12 meeting.
After receiving testimony and feedback, the Board discussion included asking staff to consider options that would assure Creston 6-8 students would have access to comprehensive middle schools next year.
The key changes to the proposed resolution are:
- The Spanish Immersion program at Mt. Tabor Middle School will remain there instead of moving to Kellogg and will be considered in the Phase 2 middle school balancing.
- Creston will convert to a K-5 next year. Staff will meet with Creston middle grades families starting next week to talk about middle school assignments for their students.
The Board will consider the modified proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, January 26, starting at 6 p.m. (meetings are being held virtually because of the pandemic). If you would like to offer feedback:
- Use the feedback form, available in all six of our supported languages, at net/enrollmentbalancing
- Email the Board at SchoolBoard@pps.net or send via mail to School Board, P.O. Box 3107, Portland, OR, 97208
- To offer public comment at the Board meeting, call 503-916-3906 or email PublicComment@pps.net. Guidelines for public comment can be found on the Board's meeting protocols webpage.
Thank you.
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January 7 Update: Enrollment and Program Balancing Recommendation To Be Presented To Board
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Dear PPS Community,
As we begin 2021, we want to update you on the work that has been completed in the enrollment and program balancing process. On December 17, the Southeast Guiding Coalition (SEGC) held the final meeting of Phase 1 work that focused on middle school grades and finalized its recommendations.
BOARD MATERIALS
These materials will be part of the presentation to the Board of Education on January 12:
These recommendations will be presented by Deputy Superintendent Claire Hertz to the Board of Education at its January 12 meeting. The recommendations include an attendance boundary and dual immersion program assignment for Kellogg Middle School, which is set to re-open in fall 2021. Among the key points:
- The neighborhood programs at Arleta, Marysville and Lent will convert from their current kindergarten-to-8th grade (K-8) structure to a kindergarten-to-5th grade (K-5) structure. Students in grades 6-8 in those schools will move to Kellogg Middle School starting in the 2021-22 school year. The K-5 programs at these schools will become feeder elementary schools to Kellogg.
- The Spanish dual language immersion (DLI) programs at Lent and Bridger will convert from K-8 to K-5. Students in grades 6-8 in those programs will transfer to the Kellogg DLI program starting in 2021-22. The K-5 programs will feed into Kellogg.
- The Spanish DLI program at Tabor Middle School will move to Kellogg in 2021-22.
After the Board of Education is presented with these recommendations, the SEGC will meet, if needed, on January 14 to respond to any Board requests. The Board will then vote on whether to approve the recommendations at its January 26 meeting.
Several existing enrollment and feeder patterns in Southeast Portland will remain in place in 2021-22. Changes for those schools and programs will be undertaken in Phase 2 of the SEGC work that will begin this February and focus on PK-5 feeder patterns. Phase 2 scope will include:
- Harrison Park K-8, which will be converted to a middle school in 2022, and Creston K-8, which will convert to K-5 in 2022.
- Atkinson Elementary’s feeder path, which will remain assigned to Mt. Tabor Middle School in 2021-22.
- All K-5 attendance boundaries, along with K-5 DLI program locations and configurations, will be considered – but please note that they will be unchanged for 2021-22.
Because Creston will remain a K-8 until 2022, the SEGC asked that district officials make a focused effort to support Creston’s 6-8 students to ensure a robust experience until its middle school location is established in 2022. Also, the SEGC noted that moving Bridger’s Spanish 6-8 DLI program to Kellogg in fall 2021 will require temporary relocation of the school’s 6-8 neighborhood program as it will be too small to exist by itself. Coalition members suggested Harrison Park K-8 and Kellogg as possible short-term locations for Bridger 6-8 students. They asked that PPS engage with Bridger middle school families to find a solution.
A full archive of SEGC meeting notes, presentations, meeting videos and links to give feedback are available on the PPS Enrollment and Program Balancing website. You may also give feedback via the SEGC Community Feedback form.
Thank you.
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December 1 Report to the Board Summarizing Feedback from Open House, Focus Groups
On December 1, Portland Public Schools staff presented a report to the Board of Education on the progress of the district's Enrollment and Program Balancing project. The report summarized feedback received during the virtual open house held on November 19, and focus group sessions held November 17 and 18.
Enrollment and Program Balancing work is initially targeting schools in Southeast Portland. The current work is being conducted in two stages, with the currently ongoing first stage focused on middle school grades. The second stage, focused on pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, will commence in spring of 2021.
The report was presented during a Board work session by Claire Hertz, Deputy Superintendent; Dani Ledezma, Senior Advisor, Racial Equity and Social Justice; and Shanice Clarke, Director of Community Engagement. To read the report, click on the image to the right.
To see more material from the focus group sessions and virtual open house, scroll below to those dates. Notes, video recordings and transcripts are available for those sesssions.
View the summary report presentation at the Board work session:
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November 10 Update: Open House and Focus Group Virtual Meetings Next Week
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Dear PPS Families,
As we recently shared, we will be hosting a virtual Enrollment and Program Balancing (EPB) District-wide Open House and Focus Group Meetings next week. We want to make sure you mark your calendars for the upcoming events. These meetings will specifically focus on schools in Southeast Portland in anticipation of the reopening of Kellogg Middle School, and are designed to share information and gather your input.
District-wide Open House
Thursday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m.We want to ensure we are hearing from the different communities we support and to that extent, we will be leading community-specific meetings as follows:
Chinese (Cantonese-language) Focus Group Meeting
Tuesday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m.Chinese (Mandarin-language) Focus Group Meeting
Tuesday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m.Somali-language Focus Group Meeting
Wednesday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m.Spanish-language Focus Group Meeting
Wednesday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m.Vietnamese-language Focus Group Meeting
Wednesday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m.Black, Indigenous, People of Color Focus Group Meeting
Wednesday, November 18 at 5:00 p.m.We will share additional details, including links to the virtual meetings and the EPB District-wide Open House website, next week. To learn more about PPS Enrollment and Program Balancing, please visit the PPS Enrollment and Program Balancing website.
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October 27 Message to Families
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Dear PPS Families,
We want to update you on the Enrollment and Program Balancing (EPB) progress. As we’ve shared, the initial work focuses on schools in Southeast Portland in anticipation of the reopening of Kellogg Middle School. The Southeast Guiding Coalition has held six meetings aimed at creating a common understanding of the Coalition’s charge and the process for developing proposals and a final recommendation. The process is starting with a focus on grades 6-8 now, and will expand to grades PK-12 next spring.
Over the past few weeks, the Coalition has used data-driven analysis and multiple means of community input to evaluate and discuss several scenarios. Members worked toward developing a more refined proposal to share with the broader community. Next week they will receive results from more than 800 responses to online and telephone surveys. The survey results will further inform the development of scenarios, and be posted at the Enrollment and Program Balancing website.
The District is hosting an online open house on Thursday, November 19, to share information about the coalition proposal(s) and gather your input. The district also will engage other important stakeholders in a variety of intentional focus groups and in many languages that same week. The open house and the focus groups will include background information about the process, visuals to help illustrate the proposal(s), and opportunities to provide feedback.
The online open house will include a standing web page that you can visit for information throughout this process and a live Zoom meeting where you can hear from Southeast Guiding Coalition members and the District Advisory Team. We will share more information about the open house next week. Links to the open house web page and Zoom meeting will be sent out just before the event.
All community members are welcome to attend the open house. We especially encourage our Southeast families to provide feedback that will support PPS optimizing the use of our facilities. Your feedback will help us weave the perspectives of students and families in our final recommendation.
More About the Guiding Coalition and EPB Process
The Guiding Coalition is made up of students, parents and principals representing Southeast schools (see the member roster). The coalition is currently holding a series of meetings focused on the middle school grades, including the open house on November 12 and focus groups that week.This process has two phases: Phase 1 concludes with a recommendation in mid-December. Phase 2, scheduled to begin in spring 2021, will focus on PK-5 grades.
Enrollment and Program Balancing uses both a data-driven analysis process and community input to address needs such as equity and inclusion, transportation, facilities constraints, and much more. Meeting agendas, materials, minutes, and videos are posted at the Enrollment and Program Balancing website.
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September 29 Message to Families
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Dear PPS Families,
We want to update you on our progress on the Enrollment and Program Balancing project we have undertaken. As we have previously announced, our initial work is focused on schools in Southeast Portland in advance of the reopening of Kellogg Middle School.
The Southeast Guiding Coalition has held three meetings this month (all virtual because of the pandemic) that focused on orientation to the material and data. They concluded last week with the introduction of a first draft, also called a springboard, proposal. Key highlights of the proposal:
- Kellogg Middle School would reopen, with the Spanish Dual Language Immersion program that is currently at Mt. Tabor Middle School moving there.
- Harrison Park, which is currently a K-8 school, would become a middle school.
- Other K-8 schools (Arleta, Bridger, Creston, Lent and Marysville) will be converted into K-5 schools.
Feeder patterns, boundaries and shifts to DLI programs were also proposed. Details can be seen in the first draft document. This is a starting point of possible options for the Southeast Guiding Coalition to think about, and they will continue to work together in October to ask questions and develop additional versions of a possible plan.
The Guiding Coalition is made up of parents and principals representing Southeast schools. Starting October 8, its work will shift into Phase 1, a series of nine Thursday meetings focused on the middle school grades. The series will include a virtual open house on November 12 that will be open to all, a community survey, and will conclude with a final Phase 1 recommendation on December 17.
Phase 2 will focus on PK-5 grades, with meetings in spring 2021.
Enrollment and Program Balancing uses both a data-driven analysis process and community input to address needs such as equity and inclusion, transportation, facilities constraints, and much more. Meeting agendas, materials, minutes and videos are posted at the Enrollment and Program Balancing website.
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March 2020 Update
Update After Coronavirus Pandemic
Enrollment and Program Balancing is still underway but is now starting with Southeast. This is because of the reopening and enrollment of Kellogg, and because we want to give the process the attention it needs as the District and PPS families continue to handle many challenges right now.
Original Update
With work about to start in Portland Public Schools’ effort to balance our boundaries and programs, we are seeking community members to serve on a committee to help guide the project in Southeast Portland – the first phase of the district-wide effort.
Family and community members with ties to our Southeast Portland schools are invited to apply for the Guiding Coalition that will review draft proposals, consider community input and make recommendations for new boundaries, school feeder patterns and special program locations.
Selected members will be asked to be available for meetings, open houses and other gatherings on Thursdays, from 6 to 8 p.m., through November 2020. The coalition will meet from April to June, then September to November, at locations in Southeast Portland. Childcare and interpreters will be available.
The application window, which opened Tuesday, March 3, will close March 17. Applicants will be notified if they are selected by March 20. The first Guiding Coalition meeting will be held on Thursday, April 2.
Enrollment and program balancing work will begin in Southeast Portland with a focus on setting attendance boundaries for the newly modernized Kellogg Middle School, which will open the fall of 2021. The final decision on boundaries and feeder patterns for Southeast schools will be made by the Board of Education in winter 2021, with changes taking effect in the 2021-22 school year. Balancing work on the rest of the district will follow.
At its meeting last week, the Board advanced the process by approving, by a 7-0 vote, a scope of work that established goals and approaches for the district-wide process.
“This work has been pending for a very long time, and I think it’s going to produce more efficient use of our facilities,” Board Director Rita Moore said at the meeting. “And that means we’re going to be able to provide better learning environments for all of our students.”
FLO Analytics, the contractor working with the district on the project, is conducting a district-wide analysis that will be released later this month.
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Letter to community on community feedback sessions on enrollment policy
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February 2020 Update: Board passes scope of work
At its Feb. 25 meeting, the PPS Board of Education unanimously passed a scope of work for enrollment and program balancing. The Board, by a 7-0 vote, passed Resolution 6059, which accepts a proposed scope that includes information on background, reasoning, values, outcome goals, and the approach and sequence of the work.
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February 2020: Policy Revisions
As Board undertakes policy changes to guide balancing work, we need your feedback
In order to make informed decisions on enrollment and program balancing, the PPS Board of Education is undertaking revisions to three policies that will guide the work.
To help inform the revisions, the district’s Community Engagement team is collecting feedback through a questionnaire.
To see a summary flyer on the changes being considered, click on the image to right.
The three policies that will be amended are (click on name to read the full policy):
- 10.045-P: “Student Assignment to Neighborhood Schools.” The policy establishes a process for assigning students to neighborhood schools, and provides consistent guidelines for changes to school boundaries.
- 10.051-P: “Student Enrollment and Transfers.” The policy intends to provide equal access to educational options for all resident students through an open, fair and accessible process and to promote equity and diversity in student transfers and admissions.
- 10.022-P: “Education Options Policy.” The policy seeks to implement goals by offering students and their families the support they need to make informed choices among a variety of educational options, and to provide consistent guidelines and procedures for educational options.
Schools , Representatives, Liaisons
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Schools
These schools will participate in both Phase 1 (October 8 to December 1) and Phase 2 (Spring 2021):
- Arleta K-8
- Atkinson Elementary
- Bridger K-8
- Cleveland High
- Creative Science K-8
- Creston K-8
- Franklin High
- Harrison Park K-8
- Hosford Middle
- Lane Middle
- Lent K-8
- Madison High
- Marysville K-8
- Mt. Tabor Middle
- Sunnyside Environmental K-8
- Vestal Elementary
- Woodstock Elementary
These schools will join the process in Phase 2 (Spring 2021):
- Abernethy Elementary
- Glencoe Elementary
- Grout Elementary
- Kelly Elementary
- Lewis Elementary
- Whitman Elementary
- Woodmere Elementary
Board Liaisons
These members of the PPS Board of Education are lliaisons to the SEGC:
Representatives
Click on the image below to see the roster of school representatives in the SE Guiding Coalition:
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Guidelines For Determining Members Per School
In order to offer balanced representation and a variety of perspective:
- Each K-5 school will have a minimum of one parent/guardian representative
- Each middle school will have a minimum of one parent/guardian representative
- Each K-8 school will have a minimum of two parent/guardian representatives
- K-5, K-8 and middle schools may have an additional parent/guardian representative for each dual language immersion program co-located on the campus
- School may share representatives across levels. For example, a parent/guardian with students in K-5 and middle school can represent both schools
- Additional representatives may be appointed by student groups and partner organizations