Natalie’s latest and archived news coverage
- Families, former Portland Public Schools employees fight cuts to language servicesPPS dismantled the Language Access Services team this past spring amid millions of dollars in budget cuts. They say needed services are still provided, but some argue vulnerable families are worse off. Read and listenContinue reading “Families, former Portland Public Schools employees fight cuts to language services”
- Declining enrollment, shrinking budget push Corvallis to consider closing schoolsCorvallis is among the latest school districts to look at closing schools in light of Oregon’s education budget crisis. Read the full story, with the result of the vote, here.
- Are the kids OK? A look at how a generation of COVID students is faring in OregonThere’s been some but little recovery since the global pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. McMinnville shows there’s hope if the right support is in place. Read the full story here.
- What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schoolsStudents and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harassContinue reading “What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schools”
- Oregon education accountability bill passes Senate. What’s next?(From the archives: June 2025) Proponents of Senate Bill 141 say it isn’t just about putting more money into the state’s education system but also about being more intentional with how that money is spent. Read theContinue reading “Oregon education accountability bill passes Senate. What’s next?”
- Families, staff return to school across Oregon, some under fear of ICE arrestsConcerns about possible deportation are top of mind as the state’s roughly half a million students return to classrooms. Read the full story here.
- Colin Kaepernick makes surprise visit to Portland Public Schools, a new partner with his AI companyAug. 2025: The civil rights activist and former NFL quarterback’s company, Lumi Story AI, is part of a new artificial intelligence partnership with Oregon’s largest school district. Read the full story here.
- What to know about Salem’s water emergency and what’s being done to prevent itAug. 2025: Take a look inside the Salem water treatment facility at the heart of a major regional conversation. Listen, view photos and read the full story here.
- Oregon lawmakers didn’t approve school meals bills. Now federal nutrition cuts loomAdvocates worry about the effect on people who are hungry. Lawmakers say they didn’t have the money to do more. Read the full story here.
- ‘OPB Politics Now’: What Oregon lawmakers have, have not done on education issues this sessionOregon lawmakers have less than two weeks left in this year’s legislative session. What have they done to tackle the state’s lagging education system? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we dive into the majorContinue reading “‘OPB Politics Now’: What Oregon lawmakers have, have not done on education issues this session”
- Special education is costly and complicated. A Salem-Keizer middle schooler shows how it can pay offJune 2025: Educators are fighting for more money at the district, state and federal levels for students with disabilities. When the money comes through, students reap the rewards. Read and listen to the full storyContinue reading “Special education is costly and complicated. A Salem-Keizer middle schooler shows how it can pay off”
- Six things Oregonians should think about as they vote in local school board racesMay 2025: Know the issues. Follow the money. Ask lots of questions. An in-depth guide to help voters navigate their local school board races on the May 20 ballot. Read and listen to the fullContinue reading “Six things Oregonians should think about as they vote in local school board races”
- National: How federal funding cuts are affecting one small school district in an Oregon community that voted heavily for TrumpMarch 2025: Grant School District is hundreds of thousands of dollars into a project that is supposed to be reimbursed by the federal government. Now, it’s not clear whether the feds will pay. Read andContinue reading “National: How federal funding cuts are affecting one small school district in an Oregon community that voted heavily for Trump”
- Woodburn School Board narrowly approves ‘Safe and Welcoming Schools’ resolution at tense board meetingMarch 2025: The board rejected a resolution late last month that would have emphasized protections for immigrants, planning to revist it in March. The vote was met with strong pushback from staff, families and students.Continue reading “Woodburn School Board narrowly approves ‘Safe and Welcoming Schools’ resolution at tense board meeting”
- Hundreds of educators and parents want to eliminate Oregon’s special education funding cap. Here’s whyOregon law restricts how much money schools can get from the state for students with disabilities. Lawmakers are considering raising the decades-old cap. A bill to eliminate the cap entirely is gaining traction. Read theContinue reading “Hundreds of educators and parents want to eliminate Oregon’s special education funding cap. Here’s why”
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Natalie Pate 