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Portland district grades advisory, codifies secondary SEL to boost attendance and engagement
Summary
The district is codifying an advisory model for middle and high schools, instituting pass/fail monthly advisory grades recorded in the IC gradebook and measuring implementation with walk‑throughs and a new rubric.
Alice Buckley, Secondary Director of Culture and Climate, told the Curriculum and Student Success Committee that Strategic Initiative 3.2 will codify an advisory model across middle and high schools to ensure equitable delivery of secondary SEL.
Buckley said the district set three implementation goals and one outcome goal for secondary schools: 100% of advisory classrooms will teach monthly SEL lessons with the base curriculum; all advisory teachers will be trained in facilitation and measured with three district walk‑throughs per year; 100% of students will participate in a cell‑phone‑free educational experience measured in SWIS data; and a district target to reduce chronic absenteeism by 30% over three years.
"I think grades and attendance are one way that we are drawing back students to just get them to come into the classroom and then building the nested community through an engaging advisory program," Buckley said. The district will use pass/fail monthly advisory grades captured in IC (the district gradebook/attendance system) to create accountability for educators, students and families.
Buckley reported beginning‑of‑year advisory walk‑throughs are complete across all middle and high schools and showed promising early results: in more than 80% of observed classrooms teachers prioritized personal relationships; in about 80% there was evidence of clear objectives and structures; and in almost 40% students engaged in creative or flexible activities. The district shared an eight‑component rubric with campus leaders in August and expects classrooms to show different components across multiple observations.
To support equitable implementation, the district optimized IC functionality, distributed a Portland Public Schools circle protocol (schools that already have established circle practices may keep theirs), provided monthly digital citizenship lessons and adjusted module sequencing so topics can be covered in depth. Buckley said instructional minutes and pacing guides are under review for next year to equalize experience across schools.
No formal votes were taken. Buckley said the district will continue walk‑throughs after winter break, solicit staff feedback midyear and conduct a spring review of climate survey data.
