[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6276812,"mediaKeyId","2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82","parentId",2658721,"title","District presents special education overview; leaders cite rising need, staffing shortages and funding gap","audioSeconds",4683,"startMs",3329000,"endMs",8012000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82&start=3329&end=8012","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82/thumbnail_3329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6276812/Oregon/District-presents-special-education-overview-leaders-cite-rising-need-staffing-shortages-and-funding-gap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276812-b9fd232f2fd6289465a011bfcda3f07e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009833&Signature=K47xUCcu1rB43NUYiosP4KKlHHiaUzYGrna2mDq0YgOwytr4et5ySVSJ1Q1aQp7brdeqc82d76R33d0P-ln0KJ2gc2FGs0lHgBR07Vl7f2wUoHnoxonKe~T9iUUvUcHdruwWYocKkJQN1OfJCfqCixAoC9biv142fjTB-WVybk7iJwkRK9vYKUqedFStU-~DCRruPw~JesZZmI1ArcbhMVygCuQm4adFow0ye7COdq1486wLqGqNvInt9vU6j8BCkYKeq2qgG57~wbeqtDP1KPaEvWxpHjihQW4lzV2P-Jg~gXxvVZZiQSU0Rg-hJ4dXHx3G-qxIh1Yr85fw1T0Blg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portland School District 1J","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Portland Public Schools officials presented a comprehensive overview of the district's special education program on Feb. 18, describing a neighborhood‑school implementation plan, recent listening sessions, and persistent staffing and funding challenges.

Jay Bueno, chief of student support services, said the district's program improvement plan emphasizes inclusion, reducing racial disproportionality in specialized classrooms and strengthening family engagement. The neighborhood schools pilot focuses on eight K‑5 schools this year; the district will not add more schools this fall so it can fully support the existing sites.

District data presented at the meeting showed an increase in students identified with autism spectrum disorder: presenters cited 895 students in the 2021–22 school year and 1,108 in the latest year presented. Bueno also said the number of students served in special education has risen while overall district enrollment has declined.

The district reported that it spent about $162,000,000 on special education in the most recent completed year and received roughly $143,000,000 in special education funding (including federal and state sources and other supplements). Bueno described the state's high‑cost disability reimbursement process and said the district submitted roughly $60,000,000 in claims and received about $9,000,000 under the current state reimbursement formula, which he said reimbursed at approximately 40% of eligible claims before further state allocations.

Board members and staff identified recurring themes from listening sessions: staffing shortages, difficulty filling substitute and permanent positions, inconsistent implementation across schools, administrative strain, and a need for predictable professional learning for paraeducators, teachers and administrators. The district reported incremental increases in special education FTE, including teachers, school psychologists, speech‑language pathologists and paraeducators, but officials said that growth has not kept pace with increasing student need.

Bueno told the board the district will publish themes gathered from the listening sessions, convene advisory committees to co‑create actions, and prioritize co‑created implementation steps. Board members urged continued state advocacy; several mentioned bills under consideration in Salem that they said could lift the state's funding cap for weighted special education counts and increase high‑cost disability funding.

No board vote was required for the presentation; board members asked staff to continue outreach and return with implementation milestones and budget implications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-02-18 Board of Education Special Meeting and Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Portland Public Schools staff presented a special education program update outlining a neighborhood‑model implementation, rising numbers of students identified with autism and developmental needs, and a funding shortfall between program costs and state/federal special education revenue.","taxTitle","Portland SD 1J, School Districts, Oregon","taxId",14580,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276817,"Board adopts 2025–26 school calendar; community leaders urge urgency on Center for Black Student Excellence",502,2896000,3398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82&start=2896&end=3398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82/thumbnail_2896000.jpg","/articles/6276817/Oregon/Board-adopts-202526-school-calendar-community-leaders-urge-urgency-on-Center-for-Black-Student-Excellence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276817-3a69abe434d0a72710e07b2cd4fd61cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009833&Signature=O6S71pQyeLQ0KV1DIRfrEB0k1nBJI~EZRoJ5-Yoiv7xHy0xmPiahYGlIDggVtS3S5ffCZ-PF~zuGfG25DRchbng0CMz6wKEum6D0SDrZWIYt6XMiCVWUGoe-skQoEoSpSHAZH1RdeR4ruXL30KSAPMAoXGgmOxTvcFjbg2I1lNFdKtltDbGD3gLnmv1eicxsKmWCopkj5V5vmDjqM95aW49LiIoRizcLQL-3devlpOJTNoHGCBQpDxJA8fuZXWjcw0-wsjP3yOle2VbXS0vwL0FMkBda0yKutEmfCZsvsHgZ5PZrBkVolBKp5WXs0dLDPwZkwYRYV3vau0qxZFfSBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 18 approved the 2025–26 district calendar (resolution 7,050) by a 7-0 vote with the student representative indicating an unofficial yes.

During the public comment period tied to the calendar item, community leaders representing the Center for Black Student Excellence urged the board to accelerate implementation of the CBSE, a promised center and initiative funded in past bond planning. \"This is no time to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism,\" said Kelly Thornladd, a CBSE board member, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Executive director Bahia Overton told the board the community has a plan, standards and evidence‑based criteria and said the district must move with urgency to redress longstanding disparities in outcomes for Black students.

Board members acknowledged the testimony and said the district has heard the community and will continue work on the item alongside calendar business. The calendar resolution passed without amendment.

No additional action on CBSE was taken at the meeting; board members and testimony urged faster action and clearer milestones ahead of any future bond or capital planning.","The board approved the 2025–26 school calendar 7-0. During public comment at the calendar item community leaders pressed the district to accelerate work on the Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE).",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276822,"Board approves MESD local service plan; parents say Outdoor School scheduling is marginalizing Jewish students",2019,930000,2949000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82&start=930&end=2949","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82/thumbnail_930000.jpg","/articles/6276822/Oregon/Board-approves-MESD-local-service-plan-parents-say-Outdoor-School-scheduling-is-marginalizing-Jewish-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276822-d2df2e0e188da56552c4cbcc035d355d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009833&Signature=dHbFH72c8NltWFsWKJhNEpcU-U8ab-3JVBHAOSP2kPLxpLsMXP~ROFGJxd-1020ZfGWR1bj4vNd6NyJ9J3CqjcYW2m2L4-7e4IgbinUxb7ylXLATE~gSn0TB9CS580Ye-qEpzG7CM7vHiYA3a3j-BRe04u3SGdvrkhhHZpGDh85Yf9p-sVqvO7aC-d1hN9CDD1YmO9r2f6B3MuXxYB2g8SyJWyTYHQYjhZ~wu4A~9ZWxclMoSXGGv9YKmm0mVqrhNgjo3BMKIlivoLOTVgkslV0-Z2DlAF2uzbB9Ua~M3Kgh~O~9MDzLm7~euPvhCW7u2Ucnk246fGUX6JS2qtjDhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 18 voted 7-0 to approve the annual Multnomah Educational Service District (MESD) local service plan (resolution 7,052). The vote does not itself obligate the district to use each MESD service but approves a list of programs and services that the district may access.

During board discussion and public comment, parents and community leaders said MESD's Outdoor School schedule has repeatedly fallen on major religious holidays, forcing students from minority faiths to choose between participation and observance. \"Scheduling pivotal experiences in such a way that forces families to choose between their minority identities and those experiences is discriminatory,\" parent Ariel Matassar told the board, saying her sixth‑grade child at Sunnyside Environmental School faced that choice this year when Outdoor School fell during Rosh Hashanah.

Mel Berwin, director of congregational learning at Congregation Nave Shalom, said the district's holiday equity policy — adopted by the board last year — commits PPS and its partners to avoid scheduling major events on holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover. \"When outdoor school continues to be scheduled in conflict with our Jewish holidays with no care for our community, it's our students who are put in the bind of choosing between their own identity and the school community,\" Berwin said.

MESD representatives said the ESD seeks preferred dates from school principals and tries to avoid major holidays when possible. MESD's assistant superintendent said MESD serves many schools and classes in the weeks when Outdoor School runs and that the ESD could do more to place schools that do not request particular weeks into slots that fall during major holidays. District leaders and MESD representatives told the board they would \"try really hard\" to avoid major religious holidays when assigning Outdoor School slots.

Board members asked the superintendent's office to provide principals with an explicit list of holidays and to coordinate more deliberately with MESD during scheduling. Several board members said they want an explicit, proactive process rather than waiting for complaints from families.

Resolution 7,052 was approved by a recorded 7-0 vote with the student representative indicating an unofficial yes.","The board approved the Multnomah Educational Service District local service plan 7-0. Public commenters and board members pressed MESD and district staff to prevent Outdoor School scheduling from conflicting with major religious holidays such as Rosh Hashanah.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276827,"Portland school board approves consent agenda including two‑week Mandarin immersion field trip after equity questions",943,80000,1023000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82&start=80&end=1023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658721-089731ba0d6bfb5c0ad8320c2a790c82/thumbnail_80000.jpg","/articles/6276827/Oregon/Portland-school-board-approves-consent-agenda-including-twoweek-Mandarin-immersion-field-trip-after-equity-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276827-08cfa724a89213cfd64b197c28d61480/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009833&Signature=YbI-ZuOUMtIRDcZ9eLxajDTIZEWno17t3wNJ56pVpJD-G6DxzQhzdUBCixhbTKIZd~RyFiPCHatAvUip~K0FdDHPP80goouoGlN~RL12rtBkt3tTeJp~35OrlalgTFKSctsU5zxTILZjiajv54-229ItXlVdEpRrJv0~gCyCTG2S2KpmAx~MZ3R9XAqq2Vmi5wy01p1yhdi8FEB12lAm7K1aoXYO1EVJwQNejPHZPql2eYx0OZy9wbJdh5xV7W458A32fwt3VN0PhzDvxPwDgOynXl4R--HkVmPDUffgUG-L1Hmpsx-ghcQtJA~CXZQyxtQ5w~pXhBoelQTPlSYWyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland Public Schools Board of Education voted 7-0 on Feb. 18 to approve the consent agenda, including resolutions 7,045–7,049, which encompassed a two‑week international field trip for a Mandarin immersion class that exceeds the district's five‑day administrative directive limit.

Board members asked staff to clarify how the district defines “exceptional” extended trips after years of equity questions about multi‑day travel that can leave other students or classrooms disproportionately affected. Director DePass moved to adopt the consent agenda; Director Sullivan seconded the motion. The consent agenda passed 7 to 0 with the student representative indicating an unofficial yes.

Staff described the trip as two weeks long with three adult chaperones. \"The trip is being subsidized by Shuren of Portland. It's a nonprofit organization that supports Mandarin immersion,\" a staff member said, adding that the nonprofit covered flights, hotel and some incidentals for the teacher, the administrator and parent chaperones, while students pay the remaining cost. The staff member also said all funds had been collected.

Board members pressed for clearer written criteria in the district's administrative directive to explain when a trip may be permitted to exceed five days. One director said the district's longstanding concern has been equity for students who do not travel and continuity of instruction for students who remain in class while teachers are gone. Board members suggested quantifying what qualifies as an exceptional educational opportunity rather than relying on a single superintendent's determination.

Staff noted that in this case a Mandarin‑speaking substitute would cover lessons while the teacher was away and said the application shows only one student who receives IEP support has a family member traveling with them. Board members also highlighted the district's travel and field trip equity fund created in prior years and asked staff to report back on districtwide capstone or eighth‑grade experiences the district committed to after pandemic cancellations.

The vote on the consent agenda concluded the item; no amendment to district policy was adopted at the meeting.

This action followed the board's routine consent‑agenda process and does not itself change the district's administrative directive; board members asked staff to return with clarifications and, where appropriate, language to quantify \"exceptional\" trips.","The Portland Public Schools Board of Education approved the consent agenda, including a two‑week, subsidized Mandarin immersion field trip flagged for discussion over equity and the definition of “exceptional” extended travel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District presents special education overview; leaders cite rising need, staffing shortages and funding gap

Board adopts 2025–26 school calendar; community leaders urge urgency on Center for Black Student Excellence

Board approves MESD local service plan; parents say Outdoor School scheduling is marginalizing Jewish students

Portland school board approves consent agenda including two‑week Mandarin immersion field trip after equity questions