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New plant hardiness map shows only subtle shifts in Oregon

Warming winters impact which plants thrive.

News

Policies guiding Portland police's use of body cameras

The city is one of the last of its size to implement the devices across its police agency.

Portland holiday lights guide

Don't miss the sing-a-long at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Things to Do

Who picks up Portland's trash?

You might have to first pick up the phone.

How parents are handling the Portland teachers strike

The uncertainty is tough for some families.

With classrooms in Portland Public Schools now shuttered for a week due to the teachers&#x27; strike, parents say they&#x27;re making do but don&#x27;t like the uncertainty.Why it matters: The longer the strike goes on, the more it disrupts the lives of both school-aged kids and their parents and guardians.

Teachers and supporters hold strike signs on a street corner.

Schools offer free meals during the Portland teachers' strike

All are elementary schools on Portland's eastside.

Portland Public Schools is offering free meals — breakfast and lunch — at nearly five dozen schools during the strike.Food is available for pickup between 11:30am-1pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Enrollment still lagging at Portland universities

Educators are adopting online learning options in an attempt to persuade students to return.

Education

Enrollment at colleges in Portland has been trending downward — quickly accelerated by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pandemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/13/college-enrollment-decline-covid-pandemic" data-vars-content-id="65a75396-a205-4af8-8832-00a14ea62cb0" data-vars-headline="Enrollment still lagging at Portland universities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/13/college-enrollment-decline-covid-pandemic" target="_self">pandemic</a> — leading educators to adopt hybrid and online learning options in an attempt to persuade students to return with little success.Why it matters: Despite expanding its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tuition-assistance programs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.koin.com/news/education/portland-state-universitys-tuition-free-degree-covers-tuition-for-eligible-oregonians/&#x27;" data-vars-content-id="65a75396-a205-4af8-8832-00a14ea62cb0" data-vars-headline="Enrollment still lagging at Portland universities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.koin.com/news/education/portland-state-universitys-tuition-free-degree-covers-tuition-for-eligible-oregonians/&#x27;" target="_blank">tuition-assistance programs</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online learning options" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opb.org/article/2021/11/17/portland-state-university-experiments-with-attend-anywhere-model/" data-vars-content-id="65a75396-a205-4af8-8832-00a14ea62cb0" data-vars-headline="Enrollment still lagging at Portland universities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opb.org/article/2021/11/17/portland-state-university-experiments-with-attend-anywhere-model/" target="_blank">online learning options</a> post-pandemic, Portland State University has struggled <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="along with other public colleges in the state" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregon.gov/highered/research/Documents/Student/Fall%20enrollment%20data.pdf" data-vars-content-id="65a75396-a205-4af8-8832-00a14ea62cb0" data-vars-headline="Enrollment still lagging at Portland universities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregon.gov/highered/research/Documents/Student/Fall%20enrollment%20data.pdf" target="_blank">along with other public colleges in the state</a> to bring enrollment back up to pre-pandemic peaks.

Illustration of a mortarboard with a downward trending arrow for a tassle.

Oregon schools issue guidance on artificial intelligence

AI should be used within a robust "educational technology ecosystem."

Oregon is just one of two states to issue policy guidance for schools on artificial intelligence platforms such as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ChatGPT" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/13/chatgpt-schools-teachers-ai-debate" data-vars-content-id="0639ba8b-26b2-44f4-8cd7-11d921f20861" data-vars-headline="Oregon schools issue guidance on artificial intelligence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/13/chatgpt-schools-teachers-ai-debate" target="_self">ChatGPT</a>, a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://crpe.org/ai-disrupt-ed-13-states/" data-vars-content-id="0639ba8b-26b2-44f4-8cd7-11d921f20861" data-vars-headline="Oregon schools issue guidance on artificial intelligence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crpe.org/ai-disrupt-ed-13-states/" target="_blank">report</a> finds.Why it matters: Teachers and administrators are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eager" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/online-classes-aim-to-prepare-teachers-for-ais-realities" data-vars-content-id="0639ba8b-26b2-44f4-8cd7-11d921f20861" data-vars-headline="Oregon schools issue guidance on artificial intelligence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/online-classes-aim-to-prepare-teachers-for-ais-realities" target="_self">eager</a> for guidelines on how to use AI — and how to quash misuse. But <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the field is moving so rapidly" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/06/ai-schools-education-teachers-students-states" data-vars-content-id="0639ba8b-26b2-44f4-8cd7-11d921f20861" data-vars-headline="Oregon schools issue guidance on artificial intelligence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/06/ai-schools-education-teachers-students-states" target="_self">the field is moving so rapidly</a> that governments have been loath to issue pronouncements.

Illustration of a test sheet with bubbles filled with letters A and I inside

Portland teachers walk out in district's first-ever strike

Over 4,500 teachers are striking across Portland.

For the first time ever, thousands of teachers working in Portland Public Schools (PPS) are on strike after failing to come to a contract agreement with district officials before Wednesday&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deadline" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/10/23/pps-teachers-strike-public-school-students" data-vars-content-id="8a32a4ce-766d-4564-ae3c-d9922a7da4b2" data-vars-headline="Portland teachers walk out in district&#x27;s first-ever strike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/10/23/pps-teachers-strike-public-school-students" target="_self">deadline</a>.Why it matters: With more than 4,500 unionized teachers striking, 81 Portland-area schools are closed indefinitely, disrupting learning for more than 49,000 students and presenting region-wide child care troubles for parents.

A photo of people walking down a street holding labor union signs.

Portland tests school weapons detectors

The pilot is part of a dozen security recommendations.

Portland Public Schools (PPS) is evaluating a weapons detection system that can be easily moved around buildings or outdoor sporting events and screen crowds faster than traditional metal detectors.Why it matters: Currently, no Portland public school has a weapons detection system, but piloting one is among the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="13 recommendations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23989634-pps-13-point-safety-plan-final-safety-and-security-task-force-recommendations#document/p12" data-vars-content-id="9df08f90-e369-4ae5-9278-017d25f52816" data-vars-headline="Portland tests school weapons detectors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23989634-pps-13-point-safety-plan-final-safety-and-security-task-force-recommendations#document/p12" target="_blank">13 recommendations</a> a PPS task force made in May, in response to more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gun violence affecting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opb.org/article/2023/01/11/portland-oregon-gun-violence-shooting-high-school-jefferson-franklin-cleveland/" data-vars-content-id="9df08f90-e369-4ae5-9278-017d25f52816" data-vars-headline="Portland tests school weapons detectors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opb.org/article/2023/01/11/portland-oregon-gun-violence-shooting-high-school-jefferson-franklin-cleveland/" target="_blank">gun violence affecting</a> students last year.

Illustration of a bullet balancing on the tip of a pencil

How these Oregon high schools aim to help teens recover from drug addiction

The second one in the state recently opened in NE Portland.

Teenagers fighting drug addiction say going to school can be one of their biggest obstacles, with access to drugs and social, academic and emotional stress creating specific challenges.<ul><li>Oregon is turning to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recovery high schools" data-vars-click-url="https://recoveryschools.org/what-is-a-recovery-high-school/" data-vars-content-id="9ed3a588-b783-47d5-b670-3efff353f3e8" data-vars-headline="How these Oregon high schools aim to help teens recover from drug addiction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://recoveryschools.org/what-is-a-recovery-high-school/" target="_blank">recovery high schools</a>, which incorporate abstinence strategies and recovery counseling into the daily curriculum.</li></ul>

The feet of eight people, all wearing different shoes, in a circle on a multicolored carpet.

Portland teachers reach tentative deal with district, ending strike

After 26 days, the first ever Portland teachers' strike is over.

The Portland teachers strike is over.<ul><li>81 Portland-area schools will resume classes Monday, albeit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two hours later than normal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.smore.com/nxrkh-contract-settled-school-tomorrow" data-vars-content-id="04b17043-a886-4eb6-97f5-568e8a5e11f7" data-vars-headline="Portland teachers reach tentative deal with district, ending strike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.smore.com/nxrkh-contract-settled-school-tomorrow" target="_blank">two hours later than normal</a>.</li></ul>

Oregon's school vaccine exemption rate remains high

Oregon is one of 15 states that allow exemptions for kindergartners whose parents object to vaccines.

Oregon has one of the highest vaccine exemption rates for kindergartners in the country.<ul><li>7% of kindergartners across the state were granted exemptions for required vaccines as of the 2022 school year, below only Idaho (9.8%) and Utah (7.4%).</li></ul>

A visualization of both medical and non-medical exemptions; 2011-12 school year to 2021-22 school year.

What Portland's special ed teachers want the strike to change

Workload issues are more acute in special ed.

Portland Public Schools&#x27; teachers and administrators remain in contract negotiations, as the district&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first-ever" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/11/01/portland-teachers-pps-strike-students-contract" data-vars-content-id="aab2246a-29d0-483c-9ba5-e93e7a8f87ea" data-vars-headline="What Portland&#x27;s special ed teachers want the strike to change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/11/01/portland-teachers-pps-strike-students-contract" target="_self">first-ever</a> teachers&#x27; strike is in its third week.Why it matters: Thursday is the 10th missed school day for about 44,000 Portland students — including the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly 7,000 PPS students" data-vars-click-url="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24168277-2223-spedreportcard-2180" data-vars-content-id="aab2246a-29d0-483c-9ba5-e93e7a8f87ea" data-vars-headline="What Portland&#x27;s special ed teachers want the strike to change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24168277-2223-spedreportcard-2180" target="_blank">nearly 7,000 PPS students</a> in special education.

Oregon's homeschooling boom may be here to stay

The plethora of digital resources available to parents post-COVID has made it easier.

At the onset of the pandemic, some Oregon families chose to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeschool" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/08/31/homeschooling-pandemic-critical-mass" data-vars-content-id="ad6cc2a0-0771-4bb0-8a0b-54f44694e7b1" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s homeschooling boom may be here to stay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/08/31/homeschooling-pandemic-critical-mass" target="_self">homeschool</a> their children. Three years later, many have decided to stick with it, according to state and county data.Why it matters: Numerous factors contribute to why families decide opt for homeschooling, but the plethora of digital resources available to parents post-COVID has made it easier than ever before, according to Rosalyn Newhouse, board president of Oregon Homeschool Education Network.

Illustration of a welcome mat with the word "school" written on the front