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Parents urge pathway for Lamond French immersion students and call for Access Academy audit
Summary
Parents at the PPS committee meeting urged the district to designate a single high‑school pathway to preserve French immersion continuity and several speakers asked the board to audit Access Academy and consider redirecting up to $4 million to neighborhood schools.
Portland — Parents and community members used the Teaching, Learning and Enrollment Committee public‑comment period on Dec. 11 to press Portland Public Schools for clearer pathways and accountability for specialized programs.
"We are asking for a single high school to be identified and approved as the pathway for these public school students," said Emily Barrett, a parent at Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School, urging the board to identify a high‑school option that preserves continuing French study. Barrett said Lamond has been losing about 35% of its eighth graders to private schools since 2021 and framed a designated pathway as a tool to keep students in PPS and support biliteracy goals.
Other speakers focused on Access Academy, the district’s program for accelerated students. "Please stop opportunity hoarding," said Emily Fox, who described demographic and admissions patterns at Access and asked the district to audit the program and its lottery and testing policies. Michelle Dubarry, who said she is circulating a petition, asked the board to close Access Academy and redirect $4,000,000 in funding back to neighborhood schools.
District staff did not make any formal commitments during public comment but several committee members and staff said the concerns would be routed to relevant offices for follow‑up. Committee Chair Rochelle Chase Miller asked staff to ensure commenters have contact points; Barrett said she planned to reach out to multiple‑pathways directors and committee staff after the meeting.
The public comment phase also included concerns about the district’s school continuous improvement plan process and requests for translated materials from Jocelyn Haley Cambier, who said her school’s plan was shortened from a 21‑page document to "a 4 page corporate word salad" and asked who approved the change.
What happens next: Committee and central‑office staff told speakers they would provide data and follow up. Several callers said they would pursue committee and director engagement after the meeting.
