Portland Public Schools updates rollout of Purposeful People SEL and plans districtwide tier‑2 supports

Portland Public Schools staff briefed the Curriculum & Student Success Committee on progress implementing Purposeful People, the district’s new elementary social‑emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, and plans to scale tier‑2 interventions next school year.

Joanna Frankel, director of elementary culture and climate, told committee members that Purposeful People has had a “very successful launch,” with professional development and mid‑year walk‑throughs underway. She said initial classroom observations “look very, very strong” and that the district is monitoring pacing, student engagement and use of the curriculum across grade bands.

Frankel said the district plans to make tier‑2 resources — skill‑based groups, additional curriculum modules and attendance supports — available at all elementary schools next year. Those tier‑2 tools are now piloted at Talbot, Peaks, Reiki and Presumstkot. “Those resources are an additional cost,” Frankel said, but she added that the district expects offsets because second‑year pricing for the tier‑1 contract is lower than year one; she noted that costs could rebound in year three.

Staff are also considering a districtwide universal screening tool. Frankel identified the Youth Strengths and Needs Screener as the leading candidate to help identify students who need more than tier‑1 supports. She said staff will coordinate implementation with social‑work and counseling partners and review results from classroom walk‑throughs and the spring student climate survey to measure impact.

Committee members pressed for evaluation details. Frankel cited a student climate PBIS item — whether “students treat each other well” — and said the district’s elementary result was 54% this year versus a stated national PBIS average of 85%. She said that metric is one of several the district will use to monitor the curriculum’s influence on behavior and culture.

Board members also asked about integrating Purposeful People into school schedules. Frankel said the elementary delivery model includes a 20–30 minute weekly core lesson plus four lighter components that can be used throughout the week; the district has leveraged existing morning meeting time to deliver lessons without displacing core instructional minutes.

The committee did not take formal action on the curriculum; the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.