How do we fund each of the schools?
The largest investment we make in our schools is to pay for stang – the teachers, secretaries, principals, and other individuals working in schools. We refer to these
as FTEs or full-time equivalents, which are allocated to individual schools using the following approach:
Stang Assigned by Number of Students – The largest stang
allocation for each school is based on the number of students served. This
is mostly used to provide teachers and educational assistants. Positions are
designated in licensed FTEs, where one teacher equals two classied sta
members (e.g., secretary, clerk, educational assistant). Therefore, only 0.5
FTE is needed to hire a full-time secretary and 0.25 FTE is needed to hire
a half-time educational assistant. Kindergarten is covered by a separate
allocation. PPS uses stang ratios that are reviewed every year, and are
described on p. 36 of the adopted budget.
Equity Allocations – Some schools receive extra funding based on the
number of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and the
number of historically underserved students (Black, Latino, Native American,
Pacic Islander, learning English, and Special Education). Nineteen of 31 K-5
schools; 20 of 26 K-8s; 8 of 11 middle schools; and all 10 high schools receive
an equity allocation to provide extra support to students in need.
School-Wide Support – This allocation is based on a school’s needs due to
size and conguration (K-5, K-8, K-12, middle and high schools). Positions
include principals, vice principals, assistant principals, media specialists,
and school secretaries. Schools serving students in K-5 receive arts teacher
stang, funded by the City of Portland arts income tax.
Sta for Special Circumstances – Sta are allocated to address specic
considerations (such as split campus, recent changes, unique programs, etc.).
Additional sta are also allocated to support the ability of schools to oer
the core program (each spring for the following school year) and to address
higher-than-forecast student numbers and large class sizes (each fall).
Kindergarten
We sta kindergarten separately. Initial kindergarten teacher and educational
assistant allocation is based on the number of students projected to be enrolled
and a maximum class size of 26. Additional resources may be allocated in the fall
based on the number of students enrolled.
In 2015-16 Kindergarten was funded for a full-day by the state for the rst time.
In PPS schools with Kindergarten and where more than 50% of the students are
identied as historically underserved (26 of 57 schools), PPS provides additional
support through allocation of a half-time educational assistant in each
kindergarten classroom. Additionally, at 23 of these 26 schools, federal Title I
funds pay to make the educational assistants full time. This investment has been
made in support of the PPS third grade reading priority, which is focused on
ensuring that all children in PPS can read-to-learn by third grade.
Special Education and English as a Second Language (ESL)
Both Special Education and ESL programs provide sta in the schools. Each school
has some FTE allocation from each of these programs, based upon the number of
eligible students (see pp. 42-44 in adopted budget). Both programs are supported
by a combination of general fund and grant/special revenue funds.
Other funds
In addition to the general fund stang, schools may also receive funds via Title I,
raise funds through foundation activity, and receive grants.
Title I: Schools with higher numbers of students in poverty (measured by
percentage of students qualifying for free meals) receive federal Title I funds.
Schools receive a dollar amount per qualifying student. These funds may be used
to fund stang and/or to provide support and services to these students and
their families. In 2016-17 there are 9 K-5, 14 K-8, 2 middle schools and 3 high
schools that receive Title I funding.
Foundation and PTA funds: A number of schools raise money through
parent-led fundraising to support school stang and other activities, through
foundations. Use of funds for non-stang activity is at the discretion of each
school. Funds to pay for additional stang are subject to sharing; one-third of
the dollars raised by local school foundations (after the rst $10,000) is set aside
in an equity fund administered for PPS by All Hands Raised, which uses a formula
to fund grants to PPS schools each spring.
Discretionary Budgets: The amount of discretionary funds (referred to as
consolidated budget) each school receives is partly based upon the number of
students at the school. The amounts range from $35,000 for a small K-5 school to
$190,000 for a large high school. Principals use these funds to pay for such things
as supplies, limited-term personnel, printing costs, some teacher extended
responsibility, library books and materials, copy machines and toner, eld trips,
and substitute costs not covered centrally.
Schools do not pay for utilities, custodians, or maintenance work. These services
are budgeted centrally in the Facilities department.
A more detailed description of the school stang formulas and the allocations
by school is published in the PPS budget. It begins on p. 33 in the 2016/17
adopted budget.
Sta assigned
by number
of students
Sta assigned
by equity
allocation
School-wide
support
Sta for special
circumstances