Dear Portland Public Schools Community:

We are excited to welcome our students back for the 2025-26 school year soon! As a reminder, students’ first day will follow this schedule: grades 1 to 12 return on Tuesday, September 2, while Pre-K and K have their first day on Wednesday, September 3. (For your school’s specific start and end times, visit the Calendar page of the PPS website.)

Families of elementary and middle school students who take the bus to school should have received their students’ bus assignments on August 18th via ReachMyTeach. These messages include information about how to use our new MyRide app, which allows families to see information about their student’s bus in real time. If you did not receive that information or you have questions, please contact the transportation office at 207-874-8240. High school students who need a Metro pass should contact their school directly.

As we head into the new school year, I want to highlight a few important things that you and your students will experience, all aligned to our strategic plan and its five key areas of priority: academic achievement, whole child support, people (staff), improved systems, and equity: 

1. A continued focus on high-quality teaching and learning. We remain committed to fostering a challenging and engaging learning experience for all students that leads to strong academic outcomes, with an initial emphasis on literacy instruction.
2. A dedicated approach to building supportive and joyful learning communities. This includes opportunities for all students to engage in social-emotional learning, with a focus on the advisory experience for middle and high school students.
3. Increased investment in special education programming and services. In particular, we will strengthen support for students in specialized programs, bolster the IEP development and implementation process, improve communication and engagement with families, and provide more targeted professional learning opportunities for staff.
4. A more inclusive school calendar and meal options. Last year, the Board of Public Education approved a school calendar that includes recognition of one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar (Eid al-Fitr) and one of the most important Jewish holidays (Yom Kippur). We will also expand Halal and other meal options across the district to be more responsive to the varied dietary needs of our students.

In addition to these areas of strategic priority, I want to draw your attention to several initiatives intended to foster the health and safety of our students and school communities:

• Implementation of Board Policy JFCK - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices. In June, the School Board updated its policy on cell phones and other personal electronic devices, establishing device-free environments at all schools throughout the school day. Students will not be allowed to use cell phones, smart watches, personal laptops or tablets, gaming consoles, or other personal electronic devices while at school. This policy is intended to support students’ health and well-being, while creating strong school communities where distractions from learning are limited. Individual schools will share more information about their specific procedures for implementing this policy.
• Introduction of vape sensors in high schools. In response to feedback from students, staff, and families, we have installed Triton Ultra Vape Sensors in student restrooms throughout our district’s four high schools. These sensors detect chemical signatures from vaping, smoking, and certain aerosols. When triggered, the system sends an immediate alert to school staff so we can respond promptly. The sensors do not capture images, voices, or any personally identifiable information. Student support teams will provide preventive education as well as counseling and referrals, as needed, to help students understand and avoid the dangerous health impacts of tobacco and other addictive substances. 
• Guidance on community safety. Our priority is to do everything we can to cultivate safe and inclusive school communities for all students, staff, and families. Our school leaders and lead administrators have been provided instructions on what to do should an immigration enforcement agency or other unknown individual approach staff or students or try to enter a school. Similar guidance will be shared at back-to-school trainings of other staff. PPS will act in accordance with the law, recognizing only warrants issued by a judge and our policy requires that school staff alert me and our Chief of Strategy and Operations, Sarah Warren, if they are contacted by immigration enforcement. If that were to happen, we would immediately notify our legal counsel and parents/guardians, as appropriate. So far, there are no examples of Portland Public Schools being approached by immigration enforcement. We have engaged with Portland Police, who have confirmed that if they learn of any proposed enforcement action planned at a school, they will work to ensure that it does not occur at a school.

For more information about our schools, policies, and programming, please visit the Portland Public Schools website at https://www.portlandschools.org or reach out directly to your school.

I wish everyone a safe, joyful, and successful year, and I look forward to seeing our staff and students in schools very soon.

Ryan Scallon, Ed.D.
Superintendent