Parents urged to explore Portland teacher contract | OregonLive.com

Parents urged to explore Portland teacher contract

Published: Friday, December 03, 2010, 4:25 PM Updated: Friday, December 03, 2010, 4:37 PM

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The detailed terms of the Portland teachers contract may sound arcane, and at times they are, but they also influence what students experience at school, ranging from how much time teachers plan together to improve instruction to how early and how late the school day can run.

The Portland chapter of Stand for Children, a school advocacy group that has worked for years to change teacher hiring and evaluation practices, is trying to get Portland Public School parents revved up about what the next teacher contract might look like -- and why they should care.

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The group is hosting a forum at Jefferson High School on Wednesday evening to discuss teacher contracts and to let two framers of the new Seattle teachers contract promote what the features of that agreement will accomplish for Seattle's teachers and students. Leaders of the Black Parent Initiative also are urging their members to attend to see how a new contract might help African American students get more out of school.

If you go: "Understanding the Portland Contract”

Where: Jefferson High School auditorium, 5210 N. Kerby Ave.

When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

Details: Free; RSVP to twhitmire@stand.org

Portland Public Schools' current contract with its teachers expires in June, and the district and union are already gearing up to negotiate a new one.

The Portland Association of Teachers plans to survey all 3,000 members

Friday, December 3, 2010