[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6193266,"mediaKeyId","3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5","parentId",3868020,"title","Portland schools outline summer bridge, credit recovery and multilingual camps; transportation varies by program","audioSeconds",541,"startMs",5101000,"endMs",5642000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5&start=5101&end=5642","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5/thumbnail_5101000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193266/Maine/Portland-schools-outline-summer-bridge-credit-recovery-and-multilingual-camps-transportation-varies-by-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193266-3a580e42658269c3d9cfcec88b209665/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522019&Signature=P-2KCkyC3PpqrQAcljTB5c22HU57yaWjZEKa5DCGRFS02x1K-D-hN0kEf4udR-ByFLzwPiNCfSVqSJ1OY7XJ3f6-qrJ7bBKV3pJC4seWq8IRlXBFAS3BJlt4Jnxai~bvZ-Uxdc39QlgfY-vt1hfpAra0Qm5JTK8ht6V84HQ7B~ybPYyYixmPVKdnqTWLTDpgna2qa14yRBdOrYd4wjS86XVr9nIkPdUWuke5gM1rIFaIIsQpoKmS0jjeFHuXbejUkUPvEIRK~ryhbfaCFeDmRRYKgcRaZrjyvVuQ0c0LrKHO~hM9bfWGSDV0gwoBpwChVdbYxuEJtC9Tk~a9at~~fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portland Public Schools","date","2025-06-18T16:07:26Z","article","Portland — The Portland Board of Public Education received a detailed update June 17 on the district’s summer programming for secondary students, including summer bridge for incoming ninth graders, credit recovery, multilingual summer camp, extended school year (ESY) for students with IEPs, and short intensive courses.

Assistant Superintendent Abdullah Ahmed told the board that programs are targeted: summer bridge is designed to build academic skills and confidence for incoming ninth graders; credit recovery enables students who fell behind to regain course credit before the next school year; multilingual programming and a Make It Happen leadership program will serve English learners; and ESY will continue required special‑education services during summer months.

Mr. Ahmed said program sites will include Deering High School (secondary ESY and some intensives), Casco Bay (intensives and certain camps), and Portland High School (multilingual programs), while each school will run its own summer bridge. He told the board that families will receive outreach from guidance counselors when students are recommended for credit recovery and that multilingual staff and Make It Happen coordinators will recruit eligible students for their programs.

Board members asked operational questions. The assistant superintendent said district transportation will be provided for middle‑school summer programs that require it and that ESY transportation required by students’ IEPs will be provided. He also said most summer offerings occur in July, with program lengths varying by offering.

Why it matters: Summer programming can hold students on track for graduation, give incoming ninth graders an academic head start, and sustain services required by IEPs and English‑learner programming. Accessibility questions — recruitment, transportation and cost — determine whether students can participate.

Key clarifications: The assistant superintendent said there are no fees for summer classes and that families should contact their school administrators or guidance counselors to enroll or to confirm eligibility.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland Board of Public Education Business Meeting June 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Assistant Superintendent Abdullah Ahmed summarized summer offerings including summer bridge for rising ninth graders, credit recovery, multilingual camps, ESY and intensive courses; families were urged to contact schools and some middle‑school programs will have district transportation.","taxTitle","Portland Public Schools, School Districts, Maine","taxId",38492,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193271,"Portland Public Schools Foundation reports record year, pilots arts partnership in five schools",278,3899000,4177000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5&start=3899&end=4177","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5/thumbnail_3899000.jpg","/articles/6193271/Maine/Portland-Public-Schools-Foundation-reports-record-year-pilots-arts-partnership-in-five-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193271-6b1c6df0ab75b08b38052c526c233824/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522030&Signature=FLU5ISyWUAbIVIxF3a6UEyDqpOfPur~olD32My6rDphJgQePjcjUcJVXEkHCJXxgy2Qnx8xgfXghq-1HbjRdRIODSirvlqNDvmzjF54yezLOK~UisXR92C9bm2U6ZKbFYCLsiVelgXIysmnniwO7wR8Tq4-4TXQn93oNTxXvWdy3ue5H9D53j3rhtgPWPIZF4t4xr0DL8FxTulRF-FD1cX4suFaJCChH9yZHZrG~bY5QIVDaWnTQdEf98SeBT6KbyDUf6CebCYPlwd8U5MAMjJwUxWepIfUxXHzugTTJshZfVGi4UK4FxBo1TKa9hLPommfPFCoU1nmiBpHUaYjMMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland — At the June 17 board meeting, the Portland Public Schools Foundation reported preliminary fundraising of more than $1.2 million for the year and announced an arts partnership pilot to place artists in five schools next year.

The foundation’s representative said the fundraising goal of $1.2 million was likely exceeded by several hundred thousand dollars and highlighted program spending that included 245 purchases of athletic gear through the Ed Feeney Athletics Fund, 111 teacher and cocurricular grants totaling $148,000, and $49,000 in summer planning grants for staff. The foundation reported helping more than 240 people stay housed through a $5,000‑per‑month family crisis fund and awarding 48 scholarships to graduating seniors.

The foundation also described a pilot “PPS Arts Partnership” for 2025–26. Initial partner organizations listed for the pilot include 2 40 Strings, 317 Maine, Indigo Arts Alliance, Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAM), Portland Museum of Art, Portland Stage, Portland Symphony Orchestra and Side by Side. The foundation said five schools will be selected to test the model next year; the intention is to expand the program in fall 2026.

Board members asked whether partner work would occur during the school day; the foundation said the initial intent is in‑day partnerships aligned to classroom learning, though after‑school options were not ruled out. The foundation also said it plans to provide modest stipends to a school point person to manage logistics, and that applications for the pilot are publicly available.

Why it matters: Foundation fundraising and program grants supplement district budgets by funding student scholarships, teacher innovation grants, arts partnerships and crisis assistance for families. The proposed arts partnership could increase in‑school arts access for students while providing operational support to schools to host external partners.

Provenance: Foundation financial totals and program counts were presented to the board during the superintendent’s reports and a foundation presentation at the June 17 meeting.","The district foundation said it raised more than $1.2 million in 2024–25, distributed grants and scholarships, and will pilot an arts partnership next year that connects schools with local arts organizations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193276,"Portland board ratifies three‑year contract with teachers' union, aiming higher starting pay",149,3698000,3847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5&start=3698&end=3847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5/thumbnail_3698000.jpg","/articles/6193276/Maine/Portland-board-ratifies-threeyear-contract-with-teachers-union-aiming-higher-starting-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193276-7cce04972431582240b8cf7a14933f76/orig.mp4?Expires=1770551187&Signature=aUm6Y4vvrnbwdEAGio72nHMYt792z0jNtgFrTtnQVcLyGwq9MU8DQPCGJapdUyFFrNwZxYB-jMkbhMld4zMStsJtVYMM9cWvpC~NNPlf~Gz7C7oIfw8NsMDKnFGpOnMAb~R-1PoygcZdl5RIgkf6meQS96w2G4yaV68SI23m~bowoplDw1Yj87aowKObXZGdYv3M69U2OdYOEXtBZMm611f9b0Sbwu0-F6Uf703K3i3vqJ0YVHAkdiFXXiEX5NqCnYBHSyjTkPs0Ut6TLIAQJSL0Ch9RmTYOiOMcxU1elVIZWRiC2AV8bx73N3ku0788HcW~KxjR1S6bxXgnQkEhTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland — The Portland Board of Public Education voted unanimously June 17 to ratify a three‑year contract with the Portland Education Association covering school years 2025–26 through 2027–28.

The motion to ratify the contract was made by Board Member Opperman and seconded by Board Member Lena; roll call showed unanimous approval by the board.

Carrie Dowdy, president of the Portland Education Association, thanked the board and district negotiators and highlighted retention and affordability as central goals. “One of our biggest goals right from the start was to get the starting educator salary to $50,000 and to also make sure that the biggest percentage of increase in salaries went to early career educators,” Dowdy said, adding that the contract will help some early‑career teachers qualify for subsidized housing lotteries they could not access previously.

Board members and district leaders described the agreement as the result of months of bargaining and listening sessions held across schools. Board members said completing a contract before the start of the school year would allow educators to focus on students rather than negotiations.

Why it matters: The agreement affects compensation and benefits for roughly 740 educators represented by the association and is explicitly designed to direct larger percentage increases toward early‑career staff to improve retention in a high‑cost housing market. Negotiated pay scales and working conditions affect classroom staffing and budget planning.

Formal action: Motion to ratify three‑year contract with Portland Education Association, mover: Board Member Opperman, second: Board Member Lena; outcome: approved unanimously by roll call (yes: all voting board members).","The Portland Board of Public Education unanimously ratified a three‑year contract with the Portland Education Association on June 17; union leaders said the agreement raises starting pay and focuses increases on early‑career educators to improve retention.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193280,"Portland schools report small test gains, outline major expansion of multi-year strategic plan",1153,518000,1671000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5&start=518&end=1671","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868020-2ef5785f934eb9388dc35ee472c197a5/thumbnail_518000.jpg","/articles/6193280/Maine/Portland-schools-report-small-test-gains-outline-major-expansion-of-multi-year-strategic-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193280-3fba4973ae2a3360c6ec721fd401636c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770551187&Signature=VAB9tNNWRq67Aw~PJ2xvr-xvpinP0vjeuO4iz1Xu44jW~zzLQe8E9a-Q1YP48SUJ2NQTDpSm4RalS7LkWM6VYWz55h1biX8Y7bFSxqdBewE1rA7~68P3rqdqu8LeGiquZGZan~9Kjacg~X6oYm2gt8x597SBQ1vYrCBTzZzFL2WE3DZMj8d6HBHrTVhEPpwaYAFXIt1S6V4HM2TDb-dKneyTTRNPO9qwT5r38JqaavMML1QGEwMXLiNg2FoeOaCGVeO4n5w5oz0avulhtRiGORAWzyMyiRSS6nKNp6bUh0IwEfxIJZdd22h4RL0q07o4k~HxpSGQsYMBOBAJHEU3ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland — The Portland Board of Public Education heard a year‑in‑review and strategic‑plan progress update June 17, as district leaders reported preliminary increases in state reading and math proficiency and previewed a much larger slate of initiatives planned for 2025–26.

Superintendent (name not specified) told the board that preliminary figures show ELA proficiency rising from 60.0% to 62.2% and math from 43% to 46.9% compared with last year, and that the district has set five‑year targets intended to drive steady annual growth rather than a single large jump.

The update outlined work across five strategic priorities — equity, achievement, whole student, people and systems — and said next year the district will expand from about a dozen initiatives to roughly 20, moving many projects from design into implementation. The superintendent framed the year as a mix of early progress and “at‑risk” items that need additional support.

Board members pressed district leaders on implementation details. Board Member Opperman asked whether curriculum rollout and teacher training explain outcome variability; the superintendent replied that “100% of our elementary schools implement CKLA and EL” but that schools vary in levels of effective implementation and teacher mastery. Board Member Lena asked when the board would see fuller documentation of curriculum implementation; the superintendent said more detail will go to the curriculum committee in August.

The presentation named several specific programmatic efforts: expanded K–8 literacy work including Orton‑Gillingham training for staff; a boundary review to promote more equitable enrollment; a district‑wide halal meals program described as a “first in the country” effort; a new data system to track attendance, discipline and academics; and a transportation partnership with Portland Adult Education to build bus driver capacity.

Officials said the district will treat next year as an implementation year: initiatives in design will move into launch, and the district plans to measure fidelity through observations and data dashboards. The superintendent cautioned that some gap‑closure measures remain far from target — for example, the performance gap for students with IEPs was cited at roughly 29 percentage points in 2023–24 — and said long‑term work is required to reduce such gaps by the board’s five‑year goals.

Why it matters: The strategic plan sets district priorities and budget choices that affect staffing, curriculum, transportation and student support. Board members repeatedly emphasized that implementation — training, coaching and sustained support — will determine whether early gains are durable.

The board did not take a formal vote on new policy at this item; the session was used for monitoring and direction. The superintendent and cabinet will return with more detailed implementation metrics and a public dashboard in coming months.","At its June 17 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education received a year‑end progress report from district leadership showing modest one‑year gains on state tests and a plan to expand initiatives next year; board members pressed for details on implementation and capacity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Portland schools outline summer bridge, credit recovery and multilingual camps; transportation varies by program

Portland Public Schools Foundation reports record year, pilots arts partnership in five schools

Portland board ratifies three‑year contract with teachers' union, aiming higher starting pay

Portland schools report small test gains, outline major expansion of multi-year strategic plan