Portland Public Schools proposes expansion of early literacy pilot, $300,000 math boost and new equity staff

Portland Public Schools proposed several targeted investments in its draft budget, including an expansion of an early literacy pilot, a $300,000 increase to math curriculum support, development of a local Black history curriculum and new staffing to advance workplace equity.

The Portland Public Schools official said the district piloted an early literacy education‑technician role in kindergarten at Title I schools and that "the initial data after even only six or seven months has been really positive," citing improvements in school climate and reading results. The proposal would expand that position to first grade at three schools.

On math, the official said the district has seen improved outcomes over the last two years and proposed a $300,000 investment "that will allow us to deepen our implementation at the elementary level and to offer more rigorous math curriculum and programming at our middle and high schools." The official did not provide a line‑item breakdown for how the $300,000 would be allocated across curriculum, materials or professional development.

The proposed budget also directs funding toward curriculum development in local Black history. The official said Portland Public Schools seeks to build on its work in Wabanaki studies and, "in partnership with the foundation," invest to develop a world‑class local Black history curriculum. The foundation was not named and no timeline or budget for curriculum development was specified in the transcript.

To address workplace concerns raised by staff, the proposal includes funding for a civil rights officer and an equity audit to identify where improvements are needed and how to implement them. The official said staff feedback drove those inclusions but did not specify the cost or hiring timeline.

The official framed these investments as aligned with the district's strategic plan while acknowledging the budget also contains trade‑offs driven by a small enrollment decline. Next procedural steps are board review in March and a board vote in April, followed by city council review and voter consideration later in the budget cycle.