News You Can Use

5 Oregon Stories to Watch This Week

Here’s your cheat sheet to what everyone in Portland will be talking about this week

08/30/2021 By Julia Silverman

Education

Burning Questions About Back to School 2021

What about lunch? Will my kid be spending the year in quarantine? What’s up with after-care?

08/25/2021 By Julia Silverman

School

Pack Your Schoolbag with These Local Back-to-School Supplies

Where to find supplies from backpacks, planners, water bottles and more while supporting Portland businesses.

08/23/2021 By Cami Hughes

Back to School

Portland Public Schools Mandates COVID Vaccines for All Employees

Oregon's largest school district joins a handful of other progressive cities in requiring shots for all except those who have medical exemptions.

08/18/2021 By Julia Silverman

Education

Back to School: Local Black Parents on Making a Tough Call

The national narrative was that Black families were among the most hesitant about a return to school buildings. One North Portland school bucked that trend last spring, by building trust among families.

08/17/2021 By Fiona McCann

Back to School

When 'Back to School' Still Means Opening Up a Laptop

Schools in Oregon are opening this fall, five days and full-time. But some families are still opting for online education.

08/11/2021 By Julia Silverman

Back to School

The Application Boom at Portland's Private Schools

After a year and change of Zoom school, interest in alternatives—especially Catholic education—has skyrocketed.

08/04/2021 By Julia Silverman

Education

PPS Just Unveiled Its Plan for Virtual School This Fall

And only kids and families with documented medical needs will be eligible to attend.

07/13/2021 By Julia Silverman

ASCEND Is a Roadmap for Career Success

The virtual CTE (Career and Technical Education) program helps graduates make informed decisions about what comes next.

07/02/2021 By Ben McBee

Clubs and Activities are an Essential Part of Student Life at ORCA

Clubs and student activities foster tangible connections and experiences for remote learners at Oregon Charter Academy.

06/23/2021 By Ben McBee

Dispelling the Special Ed Stigma with Virtual Learning

Oregon Charter Academy’s special education and related services help students achieve their goals in a safe and supportive environment.

06/23/2021 By Ben McBee

Higher Education

Students and Faculty at Portland's Biggest Community College Say They Want to Go Back to Campus This Fall

The administration isn't so sure.

05/25/2021 By Kanani Cortez and Julia Silverman

Coronavirus

From Resource Base to Full-Fledged Nonprofit, the Portland Student Community Response Is Making Moves

A year in, the student-led nonprofit continues to evolve. Its latest tool: a vaccine text line.

04/21/2021 By Gabriel Granillo

Education

Should Oregon Schools Stop Standardized Tests This Year?

With so little time in school buildings, districts are looking to opt out and scale back. But at what cost?

04/13/2021 By Julia Silverman

Politics

The Strangest Election in America Right Now Is This Portland School Board Race

As the filing deadline neared, public recruitment on social media and private calls behind the scenes created chaos for the open seat in North Portland’s Zone 4.

04/11/2021 By Margaret Seiler

Essay

Remembering Kevin Peterson Jr.

On October 29, 2020, Kevin Peterson Jr.—‘Splash’ as he was known to his classmates and friends—was shot to death by police in Vancouver, Washington.

03/13/2021 By Ted Katauskas

Education

So, Will Your Kid Be Back to School Full-Time in Oregon Next Year?

State education officials are hopeful but aren’t making promises just yet.

03/12/2021 By Julia Silverman

Footnotes

LISTEN: What Will Schools Look Like in the Fall?

Portland Monthly news editor Julia Silverman talks with Oregon Department of Education director Colt Gill about when schools might be able to go back to normal.

03/12/2021 By Gabriel Granillo

Higher Education

At the University of Oregon, Graduation Is Canceled, but a Pre-Olympic Track Event Is Still On

Frustrated students are questioning the decision.

03/10/2021 By Reina Harwood

Education

New Data Shows Sliding Grades for Portland High Schoolers

The percentage of those earning Fs and Incompletes is up, particularly among students from Pacific Islander, Latino, and Indigenous backgrounds.

03/04/2021 By Julia Silverman