Pioneer Special Schools serves Portland’s special-education students, kindergarten to 12th grade, who are unable to be successful in less restrictive school placements. With two school sites, the program helps students with social/emotional needs, fragile mental health, developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, life skills, or GED preparation needs or who require vocational training and community transition services.

Specially designed instruction and related services are provided to meet each student's individual needs. School wide positive behavioral supports and daily social skills lessons in the classroom provide the structure and framework by which we address pro-social school skills and work with students and families to deter negative behaviors which impede their ability to access less restrictive educational environments.

Delivery of services in the classroom is provided by a certified teacher and two para-educators, as well as a Masters level therapist at least half time to address mental health issues. Behavior coaches are available to assist with positive reinforcement of pro-social behavior and to facilitate the de-escalation of students who have become a danger to themselves or others. Related services may include professionals such as a speech-language pathologist, educational assistants, school psychologist, adapted physical education teacher, and occupational therapist.

Dear PPS families,

Portland Public Schools is excited to provide free summer enrichment and extended learning. These opportunities are for students of all ages and include academic support, credit completion for high school students, enrichment activities, and culturally specific learning experiences. These programs are offered by our community partners and this catalog lists programs by each community partner. We also posted these opportunities on this website, where you can search listings by school and subject.

Dear PPS families,

This year our 2022 summer programs are set to begin as early as June 21. The $15m program is the most robust summer programming package in PPS and state history.

May 27, 2022

Dear PPS Community,

Earlier this year, the PPS School Board unanimously adopted one of the most aggressive school district climate crisis response policies in the nation.

We are now looking for PPS students and members of our community to join the district’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emission in half by 2030 and make other meaningful progress on important sustainability initiatives.

Dear PPS Community,

As images have emerged of the 19 fourth-grade students and their teachers killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, they break my heart. As a parent and educator, hearing of this latest tragedy brings up heavy emotions for me. I share the grief and anger at the death of innocent children and selfless educators. This is a tragic and senseless act, and I keep each of the victims’ families in my heart.