On Thursday, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) released graduation rates for the 2020-21 school year, with 84.4% of Portland Public Schools  students earning a high school diploma within four years, an impressive result and a steady increase for the 12th year in a row.

Dear Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that your school (see chart below) will return to in-person classes early next week. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear PPS Community,

On Monday, January 31, Portland Public Schools teachers and staff will have a day to collaborate and plan for the start of the second semester, with no classes held for students on that day. This comes after the PPS Board of Education, at a special meeting on Tuesday, unanimously voted to turn January 31 into a staff collaboration and planning day for school-based staff, creating an opportunity for school staff to work on campus-specific school climate plans and instructional practices to support the diverse needs of our students. 

The recent surge in cases due to the Omicron variant, compounded by the unrelenting and continued stress from this pandemic, has impacted all of us as individuals and as a collective society. Every sector continues to face challenges, and Portland Public Schools (PPS) is no exception. We know firsthand that navigating this pandemic is taxing, especially for our students who desperately need and deserve consistency, stability and access to in-person learning experiences. 

Dear Jefferson Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that Jefferson will return to in-person classes on Monday, January 24. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear PPS Community,

The PPS Board of Education will consider a resolution at an upcoming meeting to make Monday, January 31 into a school climate work day for school staff, with no classes held for students. 

Dear PPS Community,

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) released new contact tracing and notification requirements for K-12 schools today:

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) produces yearly At-A-Glance School and District Profiles for schools and districts. These reports provide educators an opportunity to communicate directly with parents and community members about their schools and district.

Dear PPS Families,

Effective today, Thursday Jan 13, 2022, PPS will implement changes to athletics and a variety of activities in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 across our community:

Dear McDaniel Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that McDaniel will return to in-person classes on [date]. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear Cleveland Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that Cleveland will return to in-person classes on Tuesday, January 18. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear Alliance Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Alliance. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Alliance to distance learning.

Dear Kellogg Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Kellogg. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Kellogg to distance learning.

Dear George Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at George. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition George to distance learning.

Dear Faubion Community,

After careful consideration and in consultation with your school leadership, we are extending the temporary distance learning return date until January 21. While we recognize and prefer that every student be in an in-person environment, we made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, as well as to better ensure consistent staffing available to safely operate the school. We continue to see high numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our community which is causing a continued rise in absences of students and staff.

Dear Ockley Green Community,

After careful consideration and in consultation with your school leadership, we are extending the temporary distance learning return date until January 21. While we recognize and prefer that every student be in an in-person environment, we made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, as well as to better ensure consistent staffing available to safely operate the school. We continue to see high numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our community which is causing a continued rise in absences of students and staff.

Dear Roosevelt Community,

After careful consideration and in consultation with your school leadership, we are extending the temporary distance learning return date until January 21. While we recognize and prefer that every student be in an in-person environment, we made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, as well as to better ensure consistent staffing available to safely operate the school. We continue to see high numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our community which is causing a continued rise in absences of students and staff.

Dear Harriet Tubman Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Harriet Tubman Middle School. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Tubman to distance learning.

Dear Franklin Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Franklin. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Franklin to distance learning.

Dear PPS Community,

We want to let you know about changes Portland Public Schools is adopting, in conjunction with all the school districts in Multnomah County, to the quarantine requirements for those who come into close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.