Portland Public Schools
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Updated – January 10, 2025
After a semester of experimentation and discussion over student phone use, as of January 7, the Portland Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education is requiring students to have all smart electronic devices turned off throughout the school day, including lunch hours.
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), Board Member Patte Sullivan explained the reasoning for implementing the policy:
“We started this because teachers came to us, and they were so frustrated… There were teachers who were trying to keep… the cell phones out of the classroom. It wasn’t working; everything they did wasn’t working. And they said, ‘Please, make a policy, so we can teach, so we don’t have to spend our whole time telling people to put away their cellphones.’ ”
OPB reports, “[Board] Chair Eddie Wang stressed that this is ‘just a policy; it’s just a direction.’”
Each school may implement the policy as it sees fit, Wang noted.
Students are now required to place their phones and any electronic devices in a Yondr pouch, which locks the devices and can only be opened in a phone-free location. For PPS students, phones and other devices are unlocked at the end of the school day.
The image below shows a student getting his phone locked inside of a Yondr pouch. On the table between him and the teacher are devices that lock and unlock the pouch.
In August, OPB conducted an interview with several students attending Grant High School during the phone policy experimentation phase. Some students were welcoming of the policy while others were concerned with it. Two students found it restrictive. One dissenter told OPB:
“It’s just a lot different than what we had before, and I think it could pose some problems. It’s very restrictive, especially if there’s an emergency, like a school shooter, it could be a problem.
He continued:
“I think one thing that is often overlooked is that this is a big school. We have, what, 2,200 some-odd students here? And during lunch, it can be hard to find people, especially, you know, on the first day, and phones really help with that. So, I feel like it could be a problem finding my friends in the hallways because it’s a big school.”
The other dissenting student echoed the sentiments of the previous one:
“I think that, generally, it’s just too restrictive. Obviously, … we shouldn’t have phones during class, like, we need to be able to focus and do our work, but it’s too restrictive. Why can’t I have it during lunchtime? Or what if there’s an emergency?”
“They’re also making it so we have to use the school Chromebooks now, … so you can’t email or communicate with anybody outside of the PPS network. … If there’s something that I need to contact my mom about, I can’t do that because my phone is in the Yondr pouch, and I can’t do anything with my Chromebook.”
Yet, another student expressed his support for the measure, and believes it will benefit students:
“I have a very mixed opinion on it. … Personally, I’m excited just to not have my phone and to not have that distraction.”
He explained why he thinks this policy will help him and other students:
“[Before], the second everyone has their work done, maybe you’ll chat for five to 10 minutes, and then it’s just straight on your phone. So, being able to actually delve into more conversation and [get] over that awkward hump of small talk … and get to know somebody, I’m really excited for, especially in my last year in high school. There are people that I just don’t know, and I think part of that might be due to the fact that we’ve been on our phones for three years straight.”
This story is being monitored by the School Board Watchlist. Please send information on Portland Public Schools to [email protected].
Updated – April 15, 2024
On March 20, a lawsuit was filed against Latino Network, Portland Public Schools, and Multnomah County for negligence amid several cases of sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl (henceforth called plaintiff) during an after-school program, according to ABC News. The defendant non-profit under the Latino Network is Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Community Schools.
These events took place two years ago (during the 2021-2022 school year) while the plaintiff was enrolled in Scott Elementary School. The lawsuit further states that the student was subject to sexual abuse multiple times during her time at Scott Elementary School and the SUN after-school program:
The lawsuit details the abuse that the plaintiff experienced and addresses the fact that the plaintiff “lacked a wide range of cognitive and functional abilities.”
The lawsuit outlines the background of the plaintiff’s experience. (See image below).
One of the allegations in the lawsuit states that the plaintiff was abused in a class during school hours. In another instance, a student (referred to as Student Two in the lawsuit) brought his mouth to the mouth of the plaintiff. In response, she physically retaliated. Consequently, both she and Student Two were expelled. (See images of the lawsuit below):
Another incident alleged in the lawsuit describes two students threatening the plaintiff by deceitfully telling the SUN staff that the plaintiff needed to use the restroom. Hereafter, the students allegedly took the plaintiff to the bathroom and abused her sexually several times. The plaintiff did not consent to these actions and told the students to stop repeatedly (see images of the lawsuit below for further detail).
According to ABC News, “Multnomah County said it does not comment on pending litigation. Latino Network said the news of the lawsuit is ‘painful’ to the organization, which is committed to trauma-informed practices.”
Updated – July 28, 2022
Featured on Fox News: Chris Rufo speaks out about what Portland Public Schools are teaching children. “The word ‘trans’ can be racist because it is the language preferred by the colonizers:”
Rufo states that Portland Public Schools are encouraging students to “adopt identities such as gender queer.” Pictured below are slides posted by the Portland Education System:
“Gender is something that adults came up with to sort students into groups”
According to the Fox News interview, students as young as fourth and fifth-grade are able to identify as transgender, non-binary, receive puberty blockers, and double mastectomies, without notifying parents.
“It’s happening in Portland… It’s happening all over the country in our K-12 public schools.”
Updated – May 2, 2022
For the 2021-2022 school year, the district confirmed that masks, 3 feet of social distancing, and COVID testing for symptomatic students and staff are required. District officials are also pushing the vaccination on students 12 and older. The district ruled on August 18, 2021 that all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The staff had until August 31st, 2021 to show proof of vaccination.
The district began “Anti-Racist Teacher Training” in 2021 which is heavily influenced by Critical Race Theory. The material includes information being taught to children on how and why they are racist.
Beginning in 2022, the Portland Public Schools District (PPS) is implementing the Oregon Menstrual Dignity Act, which was signed into law in 2021. This makes menstrual products available in all restrooms in every single Portland Public School. According to a PPS press release, “Dispensers have been installed in all elementary and middle school girls’ restrooms, and more will be installed in all remaining bathrooms, including boys’ restrooms, next year. Instructions for how to use tampons and pads will be posted in all bathrooms.” Additionally, there will be related educational programs implemented at all schools.
The Governor of Oregon passed the Menstrual Dignity Act which requires all schools (elementary, middle, & high) starting next year place period products in all bathrooms (boys and girls) with instructions on how to use it. pic.twitter.com/8CMejAG5JH
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 1, 2022
So far, 62 Menstrual Equity Laws have been approved in the United States.
To access more information on the Oregon Department of Education, click here.
If you would like to know more about Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education, click here.
Portland Public Schools is the largest school district in the state of Oregon and one of the largest school districts in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1851, Portland Public Schools is a PK–12 district with over 49,000 students, 7,925 staff, and 81 schools.
