There is power if we unite for change.

Did you know that the Oregon Legislature has underfunded public schools by approximately $22 billion since 2001? It doesn’t have to be this way. We can each take action to move forward as One District, in alignment with our shared values so we realize our Vision for ALL our students.

START HERE:

1. SUPPORT ADVOCACY WORK THAT BENEFITS ALL STUDENTS. Listen to and learn from parents in schools beyond your neighborhood where experiences may be different. Share ideas. Advocate for and support each other. Instead of devoting time, energy, and money into siloed fundraising to pay for teachers in individual schools, direct resources toward equity-focused advocacy and robust, public funding for all our schools.
   
   

   • Consider PPS’ legislative priorities, as well as the advocacy agendas of organizations like Families for Equity in Schools, Community and Parents for Public Schools, Stand Oregon and Oregon Education Justice. Then call on your state representatives to provide robust public funding for our school.
     
     

2. HELP ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO A DISTRICT-WIDE FOUNDATION. For many years, PPS parents, caregivers, students, teachers, school administrators and community members have questioned the current system that allows individual schools to pay for staffing with private dollars, and have advocated for a foundation system that embodies PPS’s stated values regarding equity and social justice. It is exciting that meaningful change has occurred, but there is still work to do to make sure the policy is successfully implemented. Here's what you can do to help with that now:
   
   

   • Help alleviate fears. We understand that there are concerns related to the policy change. We hope that by sharing sourced information, we can help alleviate the understandable fears that arise when facing transitions. While reasonable people can have differing opinions on this topic, our hope is that communities can hold respectful discussions that focus on a fair assessment of the merits with a shared basis in fact. Look at the April Policy Update for how to address concerns and please feel free to reach out with questions or if you have other concerns you’d like help addressing.

2. • E-mail the Board to request convening a representative working group to create an implementation plan for shifting to a district-wide fundraising model for staffing as called for in the policy passed on May 7, 2024. You may contact PPS Board policy committee members at jbrim-edwards@pps.net, mdepass@pps.net, and eddiewang@pps.net.
     
     

Want to do more?

1.  JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. Sign up to receive periodic updates to keep you up-to-date on efforts to reform PPS foundation fundraising and advocate for robust, public funding.
   
   

2. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET INFORMED & UNITE FOR CHANGE. Call on your friends and neighbors to join in efforts to improve PPS funding by sharing this site. Don't stop there. Serve as a point of contact for this information campaign in your school and neighborhood by emailing ReformPPSFunding@gmail.com.