Policy committee moves revised field-trip policy to full board after concerns from language programs

The Portland Public Schools Policy Committee on Oct. 20 agreed to refer a substantially revised field-trip policy to the full school board for consideration after public testimony from students, teachers and parents who said the district's current rules have hampered longstanding international research residencies for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs.

Committee members said the draft policy moves operational details into administrative directives and removes a requirement for individual board approval of many trips, while keeping equity and student-safety goals in policy language.

Committee Vice Chair Michelle DePass, board vice chair, said the policy 'sets the direction and defines the goals' and that staff should operationalize the details in administrative directives. DePass said she supports sending the revised policy to the full board so all seven members can review it.

Why it matters: DLI communities testified that the 2019 field-trip policy has imposed repeated administrative hurdles, delayed ticket purchases and increased costs for families…