
What You Need to Know
What You Need to Know
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Welcome to èßäÊÓÆµ. This webpage covers key news and information about district practices, programs and priorities intended to help you support your student’s success.
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Getting urgent news - quickly
Weather-related delays. School emergencies. Special events:
- Opt-in to School Messenger by sending the text message Yes or Y to 68453. You will also receive auto-dialer calls.
- Twitter: .
- Facebook:
- Phone call: Auto-dialer calls go to the “primary” number on the student registration form in all supported languages. Remember to update contact information with your èßäÊÓÆµ if your phone number changes.
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Calendar
The èßäÊÓÆµ year runs September 2-June 11. Kindergarten starts Sept. 8. For dates of holiday, teacher planning days, teacher-parent conferences and other key dates.
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School Meals
Learn about nutrition sites during distance learning
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Student health
School-based health centers: Accept insurance and can also assist uninsured families. Centers located at: Cleveland, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison (at Marshall campus) and Roosevelt high èßäÊÓÆµs. Please note that while classes are held online in PPS, only the Roosevelt Student Health Center is open, but service also is available at two other Multnomah County Student Health Centers:
Immunizations: All èßäÊÓÆµ must have proof of one dose of all required immunizations on first day of èßäÊÓÆµ.
Counselors, drug/alcohol, health, discipline: PPS Student Services 503-916-5460, èßäÊÓÆµervices@pps.net
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Sharing your flier, renting PPS buildings
Fliers: PPS only allows the distribution of materials for events and activities that are district-sponsored or come from a governmental organization. PPS èßäÊÓÆµs can distribute and display materials that are from the district or a governmental organization without getting central office approval. Governmental organizations must provide their own copies of flyers and posters. It is not the responsibility of district staff to make copies for governmental organizations.
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School-based concerns
PPS is changing the way we help families address and resolve questions or concerns. In the transition, we are phasing out the Ombudsman position.
We accept confidential anonymous complaints by email at anonymouscomplaints@pps.net and phone at 503-916-3462.
- Learn more: View complaint policy and complaint resolution process.
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Track academic progress: ParentVue
View student grades, attendance and assignments and email teachers through .
- Learn more: Contact your èßäÊÓÆµ
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College and career readiness: GET READY, GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Get Ready: A PPS web tool for college and career planning including financial, admissions and job shadow guidance.
Learn more: 503-916-5114
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Athletics
The Portland Interscholastic League offers a Youth Sports Program (6-8) and a High School Program (9-12).
- Learn more: at your èßäÊÓÆµ, , or 503-916-3223
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Family involvement
Parents/guardians are invited to join district committees to help advise PPS on policies and practices.
- Learn more or call 503-916-5234. Special Education Advisory Council, 503-916-3723 • TAG Advisory Council, 503-916-3358 • Migrant Parent Advisory Council Title I-C, 503-916-5777 • English Language Learner Advisory Council, 503-916-6525.
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Volunteering
Volunteers provide invaluable assistance through classroom support, curriculum enrichment, service in parent organizations (PTA, booster clubs, etc.) and grounds upkeep.
- Learn more or contact volunteer@pps.net.
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Language access for families
The Language Access Services Department provides free services to PPS parents and guardians. You can ask èßäÊÓÆµs to help you with scheduling an interpreter for oral communication at èßäÊÓÆµ meetings or request written translation of documents.
Bilingual staff is also available to answer your questions during èßäÊÓÆµ hours. Call the PPS Multilingual Phone Services at:
Spanish 503-916-3582 Vietnamese 503-916-3584 Chinese 503-916-3585 Russian 503-916-3583 Somali 503-916-3586 Other/More information 503-916-3254 -
Registering for èßäÊÓÆµ
List of èßäÊÓÆµs/contact info
Enrollment & Transfer Center, enrollment-office@pps.net, 503-916-3205.
New èßäÊÓÆµ:
Returning èßäÊÓÆµ: Update registration forms annually at your èßäÊÓÆµ. Remember to update contact information with your èßäÊÓÆµ if your phone number changes during the èßäÊÓÆµ year.
Welcome to Kindergarten: Full-day kindergarten is tuition-free for all families; PreèßäÊÓÆµ and Head Start programs are also offered.
Before- and after-èßäÊÓÆµ childcare referral: 503-916-3230, nhauth@pps.net
English as a Second Language: We invest in inclusive quality instruction that honors èßäÊÓÆµ’ racial, cultural and linguistic assets 503-916-6525
Special Education: 503-916-3152
- PPS encourages families with concerns about their child’s development under age 5 to get an assessment for special education services. Call the Multnomah Early Childhood Program, 503-261-5535, for a referral to the PPS Early Childhood Evaluation Team. Contact the PPS team directly if you have questions: 503-916-3426. (English/Spanish)
- Families concerned about their èßäÊÓÆµ-age child’s development may also talk to their child’s teacher about an assessment for services. If you have questions, contact your principal.
Talented & Gifted: 503-916-3358
- Students K-12 are first nominated by their teacher or parent/guardian and then assessed by PPS.
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Great èßäÊÓÆµs, great neighborhoods
Families are guaranteed a spot in their neighborhood èßäÊÓÆµ assigned by address. List of èßäÊÓÆµs/contact info
Other options
Focus èßäÊÓÆµs: Specialize in such areas as science or the arts. Apply in the November lottery for HS options or February lottery for K-8 options. Learn more: 503-916-3205.
- Buckman Arts K-5
- Creative Science School K-8
- daVinci Arts Middle School
- Odyssey @ East Sylvan K-8
- Sunnyside Environmental K-8
- Winterhaven Math and Science K-8
- Benson Polytechnic High School
- Jefferson High School – Middle College for Advanced Studies
Dual Language Immersion (DLI): Apply in the February lottery at the kindergarten level. A language assessment may be required for èßäÊÓÆµ entering after kindergarten. More Information, 503-916-3151.
Open to neighborhood families only
Spanish Immersion:
- James John K-5 (George MS)
- Rigler K-5 (Beaumont MS)
- Scott K-5 (Roseway Heights MS)
- Sitton K-5 (George MS
Open to families district-wide
Spanish Immersion:
- Ainsworth K-5 (West Sylvan MS)
- Atkinson K-5 (Mt. Tabor MS)
- Beach K-5 (Ockley Green MS)
- Bridger K-8
- Cesar Chavez K-8
- Lent K-8
Vietnamese Immersion:
- Rose City Park K-4 (Roseway Heights MS)
Chinese Immersion:
- Martin Luther King Jr. (K-5)
- Harrison Park (K-2)
- Woodstock K-5 (Hosford MS)
Russian Immersion:
- Kelly K-5 (Lane MS)
Japanese Immersion:
- Richmond K-5 (Mt. Tabor MS)
Multiple Pathways to Graduation: Some èßäÊÓÆµ benefit from an alternative setting including alternative èßäÊÓÆµs, drop-out prevention programs or charter èßäÊÓÆµs, 503-916-5437.
Left èßäÊÓÆµ without graduating? Call the PPS Reconnection Center for help getting back in èßäÊÓÆµ: 503-916-3956Find your èßäÊÓÆµ, learn about petitions, the lottery and Jefferson dual assignment PPS Enrollment & Transfer Center: 503-916-3205; enrollment-office@pps.net; 501 N. Dixon St., Suite 140 -
Privacy and rights
Photo permission: Please notify your èßäÊÓÆµ office if your student should not be photographed or videotaped for use in PPS newsletters, websites, Facebook, news media and more.
Annual notices: PPS publishes important notices to families regarding:
- distribution of “directory information” from student academic records;
- student records;
- release of information to military and college recruiters;
- Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment;
- teacher qualifications in Title I èßäÊÓÆµs;
- distribution of information from non-èßäÊÓÆµ groups;
- annual restraint and seclusion report.
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Healthy èßäÊÓÆµs
èßäÊÓÆµ is maintaining a Healthy and Safe Schools webpage to provide environmental health and safety information. Information includes water testing and radon monitoring results, as well as updates about the district’s ongoing work to address health and safety issues in èßäÊÓÆµs
Learn more: Risk Management, 503-916-3204.
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Required annual notices for families
èßäÊÓÆµ is required annually to distribute seven notices to families with important information about their rights and those of their èßäÊÓÆµ. Please read about: (1) distribution of “directory information” from your student’s education records; (2) family and student rights regarding student records; (3) release of information to military and college recruiters; (4) the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment; and (5) families’ right to know about teacher qualifications in Title I èßäÊÓÆµs; (6) distribution of information from non-èßäÊÓÆµ groups; (7) annual restraint and seclusion report.
1. Directory information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, requires èßäÊÓÆµ, with certain exceptions, to obtain your written consent before the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, èßäÊÓÆµ may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the district to the contrary in accordance with district procedures.The primary purpose of directory information is to allow èßäÊÓÆµ to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain èßäÊÓÆµ publications. Examples include: a playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production; honor roll or other recognition lists; graduation programs; and sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require èßäÊÓÆµs receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information — names, addresses and telephone listings — unless the parent/guardian or the student has advised the èßäÊÓÆµ that they do not want the student’s information disclosed without prior written consent.1 If you do not want èßäÊÓÆµ to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the district in writing within 30 days of enrollment in èßäÊÓÆµ.
èßäÊÓÆµ has designated the following information as directory information:
- Student’s name
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- Degrees, honors, and awards received
- Major field of study
- Dates of attendance
- The most recent èßäÊÓÆµ attended
1 These laws are: Section 9528 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7908), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110), the education bill, and 10 U.S.C. 503, as amended by section 544, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (P.L. 107-107), the legislation that provides funding for the nation’s armed forces.
2. Student records: Annual notification of rights
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and èßäÊÓÆµ over 18 years of age (“eligible èßäÊÓÆµ”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are:
A. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the èßäÊÓÆµ receives a request for access. Parents or eligible èßäÊÓÆµ should submit to the èßäÊÓÆµ principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The èßäÊÓÆµ official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. èßäÊÓÆµ forwards education records requested under OAR 581-021-0250(1)(m) and (p) within 10 days of the receiving the request.
B. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible èßäÊÓÆµ may ask the èßäÊÓÆµ to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the principal clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the èßäÊÓÆµ decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the èßäÊÓÆµ will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
C. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to èßäÊÓÆµ officials with legitimate educational interests. School officials include, but are not necessarily limited to: persons employed by PPS as administrators, supervisors, instructors or support staff members (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); persons serving on the èßäÊÓÆµ board; persons, entities or companies with whom/which PPS has contracted to perform special tasks (such as attorneys, auditors, medical consultants, or therapists) or that perform tasks on behalf of the èßäÊÓÆµ (such as the Portland Schools Foundation, the èßäÊÓÆµ based threat assessment team, the Schools Uniting Neighborhoods Community Schools providers, the School Resource Officers); and a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another èßäÊÓÆµ official in performing his or her tasks. A èßäÊÓÆµ official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request from the receiving èßäÊÓÆµ district, èßäÊÓÆµ discloses education records, including special education evaluation services, without consent to officials of another èßäÊÓÆµ district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
D. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the èßäÊÓÆµ to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-46052
All PPS records policies are located at: /Page/1477
3. Release of student information to military and college recruiters
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires èßäÊÓÆµ districts to provide, upon request, the names, addresses and phone numbers of juniors and seniors to military recruiters and colleges or universities.
If you do not want the èßäÊÓÆµ district to provide information about your student to either the military or colleges or universities, you have an opportunity to “opt out.” To do so, you must check the box marked “NO” next to one or both of the categories (Military or College/University) on the student’s registration form or the yearly verification form and then sign and return the form immediately to your èßäÊÓÆµ. If your child is over 18, he or she must also sign the form.
If you do not check “NO” or if you fail to return the registration/verification forms, the èßäÊÓÆµ district must release the student information to military or college recruiters upon their request. Once this information is released, the district cannot control how these institutions use the information.
A list of the guidelines on military recruiters’ and colleges’ access to information can be found at:
If you have questions, please contact your èßäÊÓÆµ counselor.
4. Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:
- Consent before èßäÊÓÆµ are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education: political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family; sex behavior or attitudes; illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior; critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships; legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers; religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
- Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of any other protected information survey, regardless of funding; any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the èßäÊÓÆµ or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law; and activities involving collection, disclosure or use of personal information obtained from èßäÊÓÆµ for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
- Inspect, upon request and before administration or use protected information surveys of èßäÊÓÆµ; instruments used to collect personal information from èßäÊÓÆµ for any of the above marketing, sales or other distribution purposes; and instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
These rights transfer to from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under state law.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-5901.
5. Title I: Parents’ “right to know”
Upon the request of a parent, a Title I èßäÊÓÆµ must disclose, in a timely manner, at a minimum:
- Whether the teacher has met state licensure requirements for the grade-level and subject area in which they are currently teaching.
- Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status through which state licensing criteria have been waived.
- The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher, any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
- Whether the child is provided services by a paraprofessional, and if so, their qualifications.
- In addition to notification of their right to request information on the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher, èßäÊÓÆµs must also provide timely notice to parents if a child is assigned to, or has been taught for more than four consecutive weeks by a teacher that is not highly qualified.
6. Distribution of Information from non-èßäÊÓÆµ groups: Under Board Policy 3.30.35 and Administrative Directive, èßäÊÓÆµs may distribute information from certain non-PPS groups. The groups providing this information are not endorsed or sponsored by èßäÊÓÆµ. District policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation BP 1.80.020. Not all outside groups comply with the district’s non-discrimination policy. Families are strongly encouraged to review all materials closely.
7. Annual Restraint and Seclusion Report
èßäÊÓÆµ completes an annual report detailing the use of physical restraint and seclusion for the preceding èßäÊÓÆµ year. The report is available at this webpage.