SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

Please take a few minutes to complete your family’s Household Income Data Form by October 2. It was sent to you on Sunday, September 6, through ReachMyTeach. This form matters more than ever this year, which is good news. Our district worked with lawmakers in Augusta to change how Maine funds schools, and that work paid off. The information families give on this form now counts twice in the state funding formula. If every family completes it, our schools could receive millions of dollars in additional state funding next year.

The district is continuing to work with the Portland Public Schools community to design a middle school experience where each and every student feels a strong sense of belonging, is challenged and supported academically, and has meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for high school and beyond. Learn about the latest proposed plans and ideas at a Middle School Design Community Engagement session set for Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lyman Moore Middle School. Childcare will be available.

The Portland Public Schools launched the 2026-2027 school year on Aug. 25 with an all-staff welcome event whose theme was “Belonging. Believing. Achieving.” The entire staff of more than 1,300 PPS employees gathered in one space—Merrill Auditorium—to kick off the new school year as one team. It was an opportunity to share some of last year’s successes and share plans for the coming year before students were scheduled to return the following week. Learn more.

The district is required to administer Maine Department of Education State Assessments to students throughout the district. We recognize that these assessments only measure your child's performance on the day the test is given. To help guide our decisions about school programming and student services, we use additional data from classroom and district assessments as well as observations. Read on for the test window schedule for various groups of students. Please note that specific test dates and times will be set by individual schools. Look for messages from your child’s school on their fall and winter/spring testing dates.

Eighth-Grade Families: Please join us on Monday, September 28, from 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m., for a virtual discussion about the three different high school options — Casco Bay High School, Deering High School, and Portland High School — that the Portland Public Schools offers to students who will start ninth grade in the fall of 2027. Here's the Zoom link. Students will have the opportunity this fall to tell us which high school they would prefer to attend. This Virtual High School Preference Information Night will help you and your student decide which high school is the best fit. For complete information about the high school preference process that will take place this fall, please visit the Transitioning to High School page on our website.

The Portland Public Schools is continuing the important work of designing a high school experience that prepares every student to thrive in college, career, and community and to participate and succeed in a diverse and ever-changing world. The community is invited to join us for two upcoming Community Engagement Sessions, one virtual on Sept. 30 and one in-person on Oct. 7, with childcare provided. Over the past several years, students, families, staff, community members, employers, and higher education and community partners have shared their hopes, ideas, experiences, and priorities for the future of high school in Portland. Your voices have helped shape the design that has emerged. Now, we want to share where that work has led us and hear from you again.

The Portland Public Schools is convening an Equity Advisory Committee for 2026–2027, chaired by Board of Public Education member Micky Bondo. Staff, families, students and community members are invited to apply by the deadline of Sept. 29. The Committee advises the Board and Superintendent on the district's equity priorities — it informs rather than sets policy. We are seeking roughly 10–14 members: PPS staff from classrooms and beyond, a building leader, central-office staff and parents/caregivers, community partners and student representatives. We will review, select, and notify members before the first meeting. 

Learning at the Portland Public Schools doesn’t take a vacation during the summer. Learning opportunities took place to boost students’ confidence, grades and school-readiness. One such opportunity was Wayfinders, a six-week program at Talbot Community School for rising second- through fifth-graders at Talbot and Rowe schools. In partnership with Maine Audubon, Wayfinders uses a nature- and STEM-based program to offer math and reading support and hands-on learning through such activities as arts and crafts, sports, field trips and guest speakers. In July, as part of a unit titled “Living Systems and Survival Strategies,” fourth- and fifth-grade students in the program took a field trip to Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth to experience being “ecological wayfinders.” Learn more.

Reading to worms from picture books, digging in the dirt and transforming pine cones into bird feeders—all those fun learning activities were part of a unique, nature-based Portland Public Schools program this summer helping rising kindergartners and first-graders get ready for school. Starting kindergarten or first grade can be a big transition, but the program—called Step-Into-Kindergarten-and-First-Grade—helped make that transition easier. The approximately four-week summer program, held at Reiche and Talbot elementary schools, was a school-readiness program for students entering kindergarten and first grade this fall. Through engaging, nature-based activities, students built foundational literacy and social skills—ensuring a confident start to their elementary school journey.  Learn more.

The Portland Public Schools and Osher Map Library co-hosted the first Wabanaki Studies Curriculum Summer Institute in July. It was co-led by Wabanaki curriculum advisors and a team of PPS teachers. The institute served as a training for small teams from the districts who applied to use the Wabanaki Studies curriculum developed in collaboration between PPS and Wabanaki advisors. PPS is a leader in Maine in developing a comprehensive Wabanaki Studies curriculum. The summer institute was a huge step forward in sharing PPS’ important work with the rest of the state. Learn more.

Join Ocean Avenue Elementary School staff member Joao Bordallo for Capoeira Angola classes that he will be teaching for eight weeks at Ocean Avenue School through Portland Adult Education. Capoeira Angola is a traditional Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines dance, acrobatics and live music. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, from 7-8 p.m., September 15 through November 3. The class is open to ages 18 and up, but all skill levels are welcome. No experience necessary. Attire is comfortable, athletic clothing and sneakers or barefoot during training. Learn more and register.

The Portland Public Schools’ Parent University will be offering a session for families on Sept. 24 titled “Raising Resilient Teens: A Parent’s Guide to Substance Use Prevention.” The event, which will take place at Deering High School from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., is a practical and supportive workshop that will help parents understand the factors that can influence teen substance use and learn strategies for prevention. We’ll explore how to strengthen communication, recognize potential warning signs, set healthy boundaries and create a home environment where teens feel safe asking questions and seeking support.

Join the PPS Board of Public Education for a series of Community & Staff Engagement events in October on topics of interest to the Portland Public Schools community. Four engagement Sessions will be held on the following dates and times. Locations also are listed. Please note that two are in person and two are virtual:

The Ed Feeney Athletics Fund at the Foundation for Portland Public Schools exists to ensure that every middle school and high school student in Portland can have the athletic clothing, shoes, or gear they need to participate in school sports. It can be used to purchase these items for students who are on school-based teams or even to try out for school-based teams. If you know of a student with financial need, please talk to a school social worker, coach, principal, or athletic director to access this program. Learn more.