Support Smart, Local Journalism
Make a Small Monthly Donation

Give now

Education
Posted inNews

“Chaotic” Middle School Assembly Underscores PPS’ AI Problem

A recent assembly celebrating the district’s partnership with Colin Kaepernick’s AI startup left some parents and teachers disturbed.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

On a Friday last month, some Portland middle schoolers went home from school with new Nike swag and tales of an unusually eventful assembly.  The event, hosted at Beaumont Middle School on May 8, featured former NFL player, activist, and EdTech CEO Colin Kaepernick, Rip City Remix’s DJ O.G. Too, and a bunch of free […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

After-School Programming Never Sounded So Good

Electronic Music Club takes modern approaches in teaching students music.
Avatar photo by Kendall Porter

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. The “lightbulb” moment behind Electronic Music Club (EMC) started when Erik Carlson, founder of […]

Posted inNews

With Portland Public Schools’ Budget in Peril, All Eyes Are on State Leaders

Oregon legislators say they need to see improved outcomes before schools get more funding. Parents and teachers say education funding levels are setting kids up to fail.
Avatar photo by Abe Asher

Portland Public Schools (PPS) is dealing with a major budget crunch—a situation that, former school board member Andrew Scott says, shouldn’t come as a surprise.  “We’ve known for a long time that costs for education are growing faster than the funding that school districts receive from the state, and that’s been something that, when I […]

Posted inNews

Ongoing PCC Strike Could Threaten Legal Status of International Students

A strike at Portland Community College could put classes in limbo. For international students, that could mean transferring schools or leaving the country.
Avatar photo by Anna Del Savio

Thousands of students at Portland Community College are in limbo, with winter classes unfinished and spring classes on hold. Graduation dates, income from on-campus jobs, and financial aid are at risk as faculty and academic professionals begin their third week on strike for higher wages. For international students, there’s another threat: having to leave their […]

Posted inNews

Multnomah County Plans Major Surge in Free Preschool Enrollment Next School Year

The county says it’s on track to nearly double the amount of children currently enrolled in its Preschool for All program.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Multnomah County expects its universal preschool program to see a significant boost in enrollment, starting next fall. On Thursday morning, the county announced plans to offer more than 7,400 Preschool for All seats to early education providers for the 2026-27 school year. If providers take the county up on the offer, it will nearly double […]

Posted inNews

Amid Months of Contentious Bargaining, PSU Adjunct Union Wins Unfair Labor Practice Case

A state board found PSU violated labor law by withholding benefit funds from adjunct union members. The incident has shaken the trust of many adjunct faculty as the union works on their next contract.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Portland State University’s adjunct faculty union recently won an unfair labor practice case against Portland State University (PSU) over the withholding of special benefit funds. The outcome was a victory for the Portland State University Faculty Association (PSUFA), but adjuncts at the university are still shaken by PSU’s actions amid ongoing contract negotiations.  The union […]

Posted inNews

A Month Before Classes Resume, University of Oregon Faculty Brace for More Layoffs

Despite a recent $25 million gift from the Schnitzer family, Oregon’s flagship university warns of a funding shortage and a second round of layoffs.
Avatar photo Abe Asher

Following staffing cuts in June, another round of layoffs is coming at the University of Oregon, with entire departments potentially on the chopping block as the university seeks to address a projected budget deficit.  In a June town hall, University of Oregon (UO) President Karl Scholz announced that the university was facing a significant budget […]

Posted inNews

Preschool for All Advocates Put Kotek and State Legislators on Notice

When Salem lawmakers moved to gut Multnomah County’s preschool tax, program supporters jumped to its defense. Their efforts seem to have worked—for now.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

When Riley McPhee’s twins were born four years ago, he and his wife immediately began looking into their childcare and preschool options. After looking into multiple programs and crunching numbers, it became clear that the kids’ monthly daycare expenses would end up consuming the entirety of his income. McPhee and his wife decided to have […]

Posted inNews

PSU Lays Off 17 Academic Faculty Members As Union Talks of Potential Strike

Portland State University’s professors union says independent financial analysis shows stable cash reserves, raising questions about the necessity for layoffs.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Amid an $18 million budget deficit, Portland State University is laying off 17 non-tenure track faculty, citing “changes in programmatic and curricular needs.” The university issued layoff notices on Dec. 13. While the current layoff plans are less severe than the 94 notices sent to staff a few months ago, the faculty union, PSU-American Association […]

Posted inNews

An East Portland School Grapples With Racism and Ineffective State Response

Athletes at David Douglas High report racial slurs hurled at them by opponents during games. Families and coaches say Oregon has no meaningful solutions for accountability.
Avatar photo Abe Asher

Two years ago, Rich Linwood was watching his son play an eighth grade football game at Sandy High School. When the game ended, he realized something was wrong.  “Players were coming off the field crying, and we were like, ‘Okay, we’ll get ‘em next time,’” Linwood said. “And they were like, ‘You don’t understand. The […]

Posted inNews

Portland State University Faculty Layoffs Spark Outrage

After faculty received notice of layoffs, PSU’s professor union protested at the university president’s office. Faculty allege administrative bloat and bad budgeting are fueling budget cuts.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Professors at Portland State University say the college is mishandling its budget, after PSU sent layoff notices to roughly 90 staffers Tuesday, October 15. More than 7 percent of the 1,200 unionized staff from the PSU American Association of University Professors (AAUP) received notice of forthcoming layoffs. In response, over 100 members of PSU AAUP […]

Posted inNews

Police Arrest 30 During Portland State University Library Raid and Ongoing Protest

As cops swarm the urban campus to disband a days-long occupation, teachers denounce police response to campus protests across Oregon.
Avatar photoAvatar photo Courtney Vaughn and Suzette Smith

This story has been updated with the latest number of arrests and additional details about Thursday’s police response and an attack on protesters. Police cleared Portland State University’s Branford Price Millar library this morning, three days after students and other activists broke in and began occupying the building, and six days since demonstrators erected tents […]

Gift this article