Public School Districts in Portland

Adopted 1968. Updated 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 2006 (revised).

The League of Women Voters believes the public schools should provide quality education for all children and develop the greatest potential in each individual.

• Elementary and secondary schools should provide a sound basic education for all students, with special provisions for programs to meet the exceptional needs of children.  Funding for special education for the gifted and physically, emotionally and mentally handicapped should come from a combination of local, state, federal and/or private sources.
• Reorganization of grades K-8 into primary and middle schools is desirable to provide quality education for all students and to meet the different needs of primary and adolescent youngsters.
• High schools should not be required to have a special focus in their curricula.  However, high schools having magnet programs should also provide comprehensive curricula for all students.  The curriculum of every high school should include mathematics, social studies, science, history, language arts, foreign languages, art, music and physical education.
• Public schools in Portland should coordinate programs in subject matter areas and provide a vehicle for sharing information district-wide among teachers.
• Any changes in the school education structure should take into consideration the preservation of neighborhoods and the needs of the community.  There should be coordination between the City of Portland and public school districts in Portland in long-range planning.
• To achieve integration in the public school districts in Portland, the League endorses creative approaches including, but not limited to, methods such as boundary changes and voluntary student transfers.
• The development of any comprehensive plan for achieving equal access to quality education should involve the Boards of Education, district administrations, community groups, parents, teachers, principals and students.  Any comprehensive plan should assess such problems as student discipline, minority hiring and placement, open housing, curriculum, teacher training, advisory boards, and effective administration of programs.
• Teacher evaluation should be based on: a) the teacher’s instructional objectives; b) the teacher’s instructional programs; c) the teacher’s instructional strategy; d) the teacher’s implementation of the District’s instructional program; e) learning environment provided by the teacher; f) the teacher’s degree of success in establishing satisfactory relationships in the school community; g) professional preparation and growth of the teacher; h) the teacher’s method of evaluating students; i) the teacher’s commitment to students.
• The League of Women Voters of Portland believes that all schools should have adequate physical facilities.  Building and physical facilities should meet the state and local safety and sanitation standards.  Flexibility in planning and construction should be emphasized in the development of a modern school plant.