The 2020-21 school year in Portland Public Schools will start on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and end on Friday, June 11 (if weather allows). The calendar for next school year was approved by the Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday.

Anyone familiar with close-in Southeast Portland knows the train crossing at SE 11^th Avenue, near Division Street. A group of students from Winterhaven K-8 School tackled the traffic issues caused by stopped freight trains there, turning it into a project that earned an award at a state LEGO championship.

Graduation rates in Portland Public Schools rose to 80.5% for the 2018-19 school year, reaching the district's highest percentage since the state of Oregon adopted a four-year cohort model in 2010.

In this week's PPS Pulse: 7 from PPS honored at Dr. Martin Luther King tribute event; girls wrestling continues to grow in PIL and state

Seven community members with connections to Portland Public Schools were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday as part of the 35^th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute event at the Highland Christian Center.

Substance use and addiction are confusing and difficult issues for the person experiencing them and for those who love and care about the person who is impacted. To help Portland Public Schools families of students dealing with substance use, we will host our first district-wide Family Information Night.

A Wilson High School senior was honored for her efforts in saving a woman’s life last summer. Rivkah Zigman received the Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders last week at a ceremony during an American Red Cross Cascades Region board meeting. 

Next week Portland Public Schools will begin the annual survey that allows us to gather data to make informed decisions about school climate and culture. The Successful Schools Survey begins on Monday, Jan. 27.

Due to weather, all schools and offices will open two hours late this morning. Buses are also on snow routes and will arrive approximately two hours later than regularly scheduled.

In this week's PPS Pulse: Roosevelt, Madison use support from Damian Lillard to help students take positive steps; advice for parents to help high school students cope with finals

If you’re the parent or guardian of a high school student, you surely know what’s coming next week: final exams. It can be a stressful time for students, but there are ways you can help. Here are some tips on ways to assist your student during finals week, courtesy of Portland Public Schools’ Student Success and Health Department: 

Students and staff, packed in a high school gym, cheer wildly as Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard enters the building – that is probably the prevailing image of Lillard’s RESPECT program on local news. But if you look closer at the details, you’ll see just how much the program means to the two PPS high schools that are partners in it.

The recent dip in temperature is raising the questions that come up every winter in Portland Public Schools. Folks want to know how we decide to delay or close schools, and how any missed classroom dates are handled. Here are answers to questions we often hear:

The project is called Developing Leaders, Transforming Practice – or DLTP. While the name might imply a complicated academic process, the project’s goal can be summed in the words of Portland State University professor Nicole Rigelman: “Deeper understanding of math for your children.”

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) issues annual report cards for every school and school district. The report cards offer families and the community valuable information about student attendance and achievement and teacher experience, among other things.

In this week's PPS Pulse: Dates set for 2020 high school graduations; Franklin boys soccer team sweeps All-State awards

Do you know a teacher in Portland Public Schools who is making a dramatic difference in the lives of students? Nominations are being accepted for the 2021 Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year Awards.

Are you a bilingual college graduate or near college graduate who would like to make a difference in students’ lives? Portland Public Schools is recruiting candidates for its Dual Language Teacher Residency Program. The program helps prepare prospective educators for careers as bilingual teachers.

The Franklin High School boys soccer team made history this fall by winning the first state championship in program history. Last week, the Lightning reaped some big rewards for their outstanding season, winning both major awards on the Class 6A All-State teams.

Portland Public Schools shares the deep sadness felt across the larger Portland community, at the news of the passing of City Commissioner Nick Fish.