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Portland committee launches design phase to align high-school curriculum, starting with math
Summary
District staff told the Curriculum & Student Success Committee they will form a teacher-led work group in October to design a shared high‑school curriculum and aligned assessment, starting with math, accompanied by planned professional development and pilot materials.
Allison Dame, director of secondary academics for Portland Public Schools, told the Curriculum & Student Success Committee on Sept. 8 that the district is entering a design phase to align high‑school curriculum across its three high schools, beginning with math. The district will convene a representative work group that will meet twice in October and then monthly to define a vision of high‑quality math instruction, vet and pilot materials, and design aligned curriculum, instruction, assessment and student supports.
Dame said the effort is grounded in the district’s Portrait of the Graduate and the strategic plan’s achievement objectives and is intended to create consistent access to grade‑level work, aligned assessments for progress monitoring and ongoing professional development for teachers. “This design work is kind of, like the first shovel in the ground,” Dame said, describing the work group and pilot timeline.
Committee members pressed staff on change management and teacher buy‑in. Vice Chair Nikki Bondo asked how teachers will be engaged and whether a standard curriculum risks undermining teacher autonomy. Dame responded that the district will intentionally include teachers in a representative work group and co‑design materials, stressing that the aim is to achieve equitable student outcomes rather than to dictate instruction from the top.
Dame and Dr. Cheryl Proctor, chief of schools and academics, framed the alignment as a response to student outcome data: district staff noted that fewer than half of district students are performing at grade level in math and argued the scale of change requires coordinated materials and supports. The district also plans community and parent engagement later in the year and a phased rollout that includes teacher professional learning.
Next steps: staff will convene the math work group in October, pilot materials, plan professional development and return to the committee with progress updates and opportunities for broader staff and community input.
