Pulse – Weigh in on education at Portland Plan workshops

A newsletter for families in Portland Public Schools
April 2010: In this issue
1.	Superintendent to present high school recommendation
2.	Proposed budget invests in student achievement
3.	Future beckons for students at careers expo
4.	2010-11 calendars go to school board
5.	Thanks to partners, Jefferson program is alive and well
6.	PPS clerk makes memories for special needs students
7.	Benson Tech Show is April 29-30
8.	Visiting Israeli students say, 'We can have peace'
9.	Beach students learn to defuse problems
10.	Lent K-8 celebrates award for raising achievement
11.	Earth Day action abounds at PPS schools
12.	Marimba music festival returns April 24
13.	Cause of Marysville fire inconclusive
14.	'Fill up' on education at state PTA convention
15.	Ocean on wheels visits Faubion
16.	Weigh in on education at Portland Plan workshops
17.	Reading, writing, arithmetic — and ballet

The Portland Plan is the city's effort to guide Portland's growth and development for the next 25 years. At the workshops, participants will set goals and targets around a variety of issues facing Portland, including improving access to affordable housing, quality schools and 20-minute neighborhoods.

Portland Plan workshops kicked off last year, producing nine "action areas" linked with broad goals or points of consensus. (Under education, for example, the plan seeks to "reduce achievement disparities.") A draft of the plan is scheduled to be completed by December, with implementation beginning in 2011.

Everyone is welcome to attend the workshops. Two of them are in PPS schools: April 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Beaumont Middle School, 4043 N.E. Fremont St., and 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 18 at Jackson Middle School, 10625 S.W. 35th Ave.

All five Portland school districts are partners in the Portland Plan. Although the city does not set school district policy, Portland Public Schools works closely with city government on a variety of issues; for example, a number of city parks are owned by PPS but managed by Portland Parks & Recreation, and during summer the city partners with PPS to provide children with meals.

At Portland Public Schools, this is our goal: By the end of elementary, middle, and high school, every student by name will meet or exceed academic standards and will be fully prepared to make productive life decisions. For more information on Portland Public Schools, call 503-916-3304, e-mail us at pubinfo@pps.net, or visit www.pps.k12.or.us. Portland Public Schools is an equal opportunity educator and employer.