History of Local School Foundations

In 1994/95, on the heels of Measure 5's cuts to public education parents from a number of Portland schools, including Chapman, Duniway, Bridlemile, Ainsworth and Lincoln, asked the Portland School Board to allow parents to create a vehicle for raising private money for teachers, other staff positions, and core operations of their schools.

After months of deliberation and a community-wide review process, the School Board voted to allow parents to raise money for any part of the cost of the basic school budget through "local school foundations." While every school in the Portland district has an account with the Portland Schools Foundation, currently there are 31 active local foundations operating under the fiscal umbrella of the Schools Foundation.

The Equity Fund – Portland Schools Foundation

Because not all schools can raise significant private money, the School Board requires 1/3 of the funds raised by local school foundations to be set aside in an Equity Fund administered by the Portland Schools Foundation. The remaining 2/3 is used by the school for "instructional staff, educational enhancements, extended day activities, and contracts." In 2005/06 local school foundations raised $2.7 million – about ½ of 1% of the district's annual budget.

Because many low income schools are able to raise only a few thousand dollars each year, in 1998 the School Board approved an amendment to the original policy to exempt the first $5,000 from the equity provision. Today, all funds raised after the first $10,000 are subject to the 1/3-2/3 split.

How the Equity Fund is Distributed

Since 1997, The Portland Schools Foundation has targeted the distribution of these one-third funds through two strategic grant programs designed to do one thing: close the achievement and opportunity gap between low-income children, second language learners and children of color, and their white, more affluent peers. These two initiatives were designed in close consultation with teachers and principals in the city's highest-poverty schools, district leaders, and community leaders.

Equity Fund grants are supported by a competitive application process to encourage efforts that are data driven, focused on results and supported by the full school community:

• New Vision Grants – Up to $40,000 per school, or collaboration between schools, to align and strengthen the curriculum, support and improve teachers' practice and their understanding of the ongoing, continuous assessment of student work. All schools have an achievement gap, so all schools are eligible to apply.
• Parent, Family & Community Involvement Grants – Up to $40,000 to strengthen parent, family and community engagement and leadership to help students achieve at higher levels and improve school performance. Targeted to schools with high percentages of students of color, children from low-income families, and second language learners.

Decision Making

• Grant decisions are made by a committee of our own Board members, PPS leaders (including those in charge of curriculum and instruction), community members and ex-principals.
• On average we receive more requests for support from schools and community/parent organizations than we can fund. We can support approximately 1/3 of the requests we receive.
• Criteria for both grant programs are reviewed each year by the grantmaking committee and our staff to ensure funds are used as strategically as possible.
• Periodically, an outside evaluation of the New Vision Program is conducted. In 2007 we will commission an independent evaluation of both New Vision and Parent, Family & Community Involvement grants.

Grant Examples:

• In southeast Portland's Clark Elementary School, 80% of the students are low income and half the children speak a language other than English at home. The Schools Foundation has invested more than $80,000 in Clark with dramatic results: 100% of Clark's students reach or exceed state benchmarks in reading and 98% in math.
• In the more affluent Alameda neighborhood, Beaumont Middle School has 46% low-income and 40% African American students. In the last four years, with support of our grants, the collective leadership of the school's principal, teachers, staff and parents, Beaumont has cut its achievement gap in half, with 78% of African American students reaching benchmark in reading and 70% in math. Beaumont is creating a plan to close the gap completely within two years.
• At Rosa Parks (previously Ball) Elementary in North Portland, the Portland Schools Foundation invested over $41,000 to support the professional development of the teachers and to improve and align the curriculum. With 86% low-income students and 76% of the children ethnic minorities, Rosa Parks' students are performing at 100% in state standardized reading and 99% in math.
• Full listing of Equity Fund Awards