Community Partnerships

Portland Public Schools is actively involved in community planning to encourage strong communication, cooperation, and the sharing of information among agencies and their community partners. Head Start works diligently to improve the delivery of community services to children and families.

Partnerships are established within our school district between programs such as curriculum and instruction, student services, early childhood education, transportation, nutrition services, special education, English as a Second Language, technology services. Creative Science School and Head Start partner in a school-wide "Green Lunch Plate" project.  City-wide partnerships are numerous and include health, social service and early childhood education organizations, colleges and universities, ESD's, the Oregon Zoo and more.  Our partnership with IBM/PACER KidSmart technology program has contributed six computer work stations at our Applegate site.  Read about our partnership in our PPS Head Start Annual Report.

Parents and staff work directly to influence the nature and quality of these partnerships by serving on boards, committees, advisory groups and through informal connections. Volunteers are a very large and active part of Head Start. Parents and community members are encouraged to volunteer in classrooms and assist with center activities such as field trips and fundraisers.

The Policy council is a voluntary decision making group which meets monthly with the director and staff to plan and approve program policy and practices. Parents from each site and program option are encouraged to serve as council members.