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PPS Middle School Design: Online Community Engagement Form

Required

The Portland Public Schools is continuing the process of designing a strong, equitable middle school experience for every student. The Guiding Coalition, workgroups, staff, students, families, and community members have been helping develop and refine a proposed Middle School Design Framework and several design considerations.

This work is still in progress and final recommendations have not been decided.

This form provides an opportunity to participate if you were unable to attend one of our in-person or virtual engagement sessions—or if you would like to provide additional feedback.

You may choose one of two ways to participate:

Option 1: Review the Full Design Framework
Choose this option if you are willing to read the proposed Middle School Design Framework and provide feedback section by section. This option will take more time and allows you to give detailed feedback on the framework itself.

Option 2: Provide Feedback on the Overall Middle School Experience
Choose this option if you would prefer not to read the full Design Framework. We will provide a brief overview of the student experience the framework is intended to create and ask you to respond to the overall direction.

Both options will give you an opportunity to provide feedback on key design considerations currently being explored. 
 

 

Which best describes you? Select all that apply.requiredPlease select up to 13 choices
Please select up to 13 choices
If you are connected to a PPS school, which school(s)?Please select up to 19 choices
Please select up to 19 choices
Are you completing this survey in a language other than English?required
Choose your engagement pathway. How would you like to provide feedback?required

PATHWAY 1 — Full Design Framework Review

The proposed PPS Middle School Design Framework describes the experience we want every PPS middle school student to have. Its goal is to create one coherent framework in which every component works together to support student success.

Before continuing, please read the Full Middle School Design Framework:

Middle School Design Framework

As you read, consider four questions:

  • What feels essential and should remain?
  • What needs clarification or refinement?
  • What is missing?
  • What would need to be true for this to work well for all students?

 

Academic Programming

Academic Programming describes the rigorous, coherent, relevant, and inclusive learning experience students should have, including core academic expectations, applied and student-centered learning, curriculum and instructional design, assessment and feedback, student agency, and learning environments.


School Organization & Teaming

This section describes how students and staff could be organized so every student is known, supported, and connected. It includes interdisciplinary teams, student cohorts, advisory, common planning time, shared responsibility for students, collaborative leadership, and scheduling structures that support learning and relationships.


Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

This section describes how PPS could identify student needs early and provide timely, coordinated support while maintaining access to grade-level learning. It includes academic, behavioral, attendance, engagement, social-emotional, and wellness supports, as well as shared data systems, progress monitoring, and clear responsibilities across teams.


Special Education

This section describes how special education could be fully integrated into the middle school experience. It focuses on ensuring students receive individualized supports while maintaining access to rigorous grade-level learning, general education classes, electives, and enrichment opportunities.


ESOL Programming

This section describes how PPS could support multilingual learners through an integrated approach to language development, rigorous grade-level learning, identity, belonging, and family partnership. It emphasizes shared responsibility among ESOL teachers, classroom teachers, counselors, specialists, and interdisciplinary teams.


Climate & Culture

This section describes the school environment and relationships we want every student to experience. It focuses on belonging, safety, strong relationships with adults, student voice and agency, positive and restorative approaches to behavior, social-emotional supports, family partnership, inclusive activities, and a strong academic culture.


Professional Development & Adult Learning

This section describes how educators could learn and improve together so they are prepared to deliver the middle school experience described in the framework. It emphasizes collaborative planning, coaching, instructional rounds, analysis of student work, curriculum-based professional learning, teacher leadership, and continuous improvement.


District Coherence, Equity & Implementation

This section describes how PPS could create a strong and equitable middle school experience across all three schools while preserving appropriate professional judgment. It focuses on shared district expectations, equitable access and experiences, thoughtful teacher autonomy, and ongoing review and improvement of the middle school model.


Looking Across the Entire Framework

PATHWAY 2 — Overall Middle School Design Feedback

You do not need to read the full Design Framework for this pathway. What follows is a brief overview of the student experience the proposed framework is intended to create, summarized in three areas: Learning & Opportunity; Belonging, Support & Inclusion; and Conditions for Success.


Learning & Opportunity

Challenging, Relevant Learning
Strong grade-level academics plus projects, real-world experiences, collaboration, choice, and service learning

Broad & Enriching Education
Core academics, arts, physical education, civics, digital wellness, financial literacy, and opportunities to discover interests and strengths

Voice, Choice & Ownership
Students set goals, reflect, revise work, make meaningful choices, and contribute to decisions affecting their school experience

Opportunities Beyond Class
Clubs, intramurals, leadership, service learning, recess, activities, and shared traditions build connection and community


Belonging, Support & Inclusion

Known Well by Adults
Relationship-centered structures, interdisciplinary teams, and Advisory or Crew help students build strong connections

Coordinated Support
Academic, behavioral, attendance, social-emotional, and wellness needs are identified early while rigorous learning continues

Inclusive & Equitable Access
Students with disabilities and multilingual learners receive supports within grade-level learning and have access to electives and enrichment.

Belonging, Safety & Purpose
Predictable expectations, restorative approaches, SEL, accessible mental health supports, and representation of cultures and identities


Conditions for Success

Student-Centered Schedule
Time for intervention, enrichment, interdisciplinary learning, activities, and electives—plus teacher collaboration and coordination

Learning-Centered Spaces
Spaces support STEM, outdoor learning, collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, intervention, enrichment, and student support

Strong Experience at Every School
Students receive a strong and equitable middle school experience regardless of which PPS middle school they attend

Professional Judgment
Educators retain appropriate professional judgment to respond to the students they serve


To move to the next section:
Click “Next” to continue.required

Design Considerations — Possibilities We Are Exploring

The following are possibilities under consideration—not decisions. We are seeking your feedback on three key design considerations:

  • School Models — possible adoption of a nationally recognized model or framework
  • Grade Configuration — how middle school grade levels could be organized
  • Extended Day — the possibility of adding approximately one hour to the middle school day and how that time could be structured


As you respond, consider how each possibility could help PPS realize the student experience described in the Middle School Design Framework.


School Models

PPS is considering whether a nationally recognized school model or framework could support our middle school design. Models reviewed include:

  • EL Education
  • International Baccalaureate (IB)
  • Community Schools


Want to learn more? You can review the three models we explored:

Academic Model Comparison

This is optional—you can also respond to the idea of adopting a nationally recognized model in general.


Grade Configuration

PPS is exploring different ways middle school grades could be organized:

  • Grades 5–8
  • Grades 6–8
  • Grades 5–6 / 7–8  — this could be structured as a school-within-a-school model or as separate schools

Extended Day

PPS is exploring the possibility of adding approximately one hour to the middle school day and considering how that additional time could be structured.


Hopes & Priorities

 

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