Our Promise to the Portland Community
By Xavier Botana
Earlier this month, the Portland Public Schools launched
“The Portland Public Schools Promise” – our pledge to the community that our
graduates will be prepared and empowered to succeed. The Portland Promise is our
assurance to our students, their families and our stakeholders about what they
can expect from their district.
Our district is the largest and most diverse in Maine. More
than one third of our students come from homes where a primary language other
than English is spoken. That means that in our classrooms, students learn side
by side with students who have different worldviews and experiences. Together,
they build new knowledge by challenging each other to think beyond their
specific experiences and conditions.
Portland residents support their city’s public schools
because they recognize that the vitality of their community is inextricably
linked to quality schools.
Portland residents also recognize that our diversity is one
of the greatest attributes of our school system.
Another reason Portland residents support their public schools
is because they believe – as our Founding Fathers such as James Madison did –
that education and the preservation of our democracy are intertwined.
The Portland Promise is the result of the work of the
Portland Board of Public Education, Portland Public Schools faculty, staff and
students and parents and partners – all working together to determine how to
best fulfill our school district’s unique potential.
Through this initiative, we promise to prepare and empower
our students for their future by working to realize the four goals established
in our updated Comprehensive Plan – Achievement, Whole Student, Equity, and
People.
I’ve discussed these goals here previously, but here’s a
brief summary and our five-year targets for these goals:
·
Achievement: Every student will have the
knowledge and skills needed to succeed at the next level and be empowered with
a plan for what to do with that knowledge. Five-year target: 92 percent of our
students will graduate college and career ready.
·
Whole Student: We do more than teach
academics. We are responsible for
exposing students to a well-rounded education that connects them to their diverse
talents and helps them develop the skills, habits and mindset for success in
life. Our five-year target: 95 percent of our students will feel valued and
connected to a caring adult at our school.
·
Equity: Our data shows that our financially
advantaged students compete favorably with students from other school districts.
Research suggests that, in fact, they’re better off because they learn in the
diverse environment that is the Portland Public Schools. However, our data also
shows that our financially disadvantaged students do not have the same
outcomes. We are not alone in this challenge.
A recent report by the ACLU of Maine found that Maine students who are
immigrants and members of minority groups experience harassment and
discrimination in schools throughout the state. While Portland is a leader in
providing safe and inclusive learning environments, there still is significant
work to be done. As a district – as a community – we cannot allow factors such
as zip codes, family income or education level, race or native language to
define our outcomes. Our five-year target: a 50 percent reduction in academic
achievement and opportunity gaps.
·
People: Without the most talented and diverse
staff working as one to achieve the other three goals, we won’t be able to
achieve them. We are committing to providing a work environment where our staff
members have the skills and support that they need to realize expectations. Our
five-year target: 95 percent of staff members are satisfied and engaged in the
work that they do.
Our Portland Promise campaign is now underway. We’ll be
communicating its message to the community through such means as posters on
buses, banners on city streets, and announcements on the district’s website and
in the community.
The campaign will showcase a number of our successful
graduates who are doing amazing things in our community. Their experiences make
it clear that the Portland Public Schools is a great choice for families and
deserving of community support.
You can read about our graduates and learn more about the
Portland Promise on our new webpage:
