Portland Public Schools Packet Summary — 08-21-2026
Meeting Overview
The Portland Public Schools packet is for the Ad-hoc Committee on the District's Commitment to Equity, Belonging, and Supportive Schools for All Students and Staff meeting scheduled for August 21, 2026. The agenda identifies a business item focused on the selection of a vendor for the equity audit, along with opening remarks, next steps, and adjournment.
The packet includes the Equity Audit Request for Proposals (RFP #26064) and vendor proposal materials submitted in response to the district’s request.
Key Items on the Agenda
Equity Audit Vendor Selection
The agenda includes consideration of a vendor for the equity audit engagement. The packet contains multiple vendor proposals submitted in response to RFP #26064, including proposals from organizations such as Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates; K12 Coalition; BlackPrint Education Consulting; Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium; and others.
The RFP describes the engagement as a collaborative equity learning and systems review process intended to examine organizational practices, synthesize existing information, and identify opportunities for improvement. The packet states that the district is seeking a partner to review existing data, support stakeholder engagement, analyze systems, and develop practical recommendations.
Equity Audit Scope and Proposed Work
The RFP proposes reviewing existing district information rather than beginning a new data collection effort. Materials identified for review include sources such as workforce data, engagement feedback, leadership initiatives, student outcome data, the Educators of Color Report, PowerSchool data, the TNTP Insight Report, staff engagement survey data, the Equity Policy, and the Board’s Equity Resolution.
The proposed work is intended to synthesize existing information, identify patterns, and support recommendations aligned with district capacity and resources.
Stakeholder Engagement
The RFP includes targeted engagement opportunities designed to support understanding of staff experiences and organizational practices. Proposed engagement methods include structured conversations with stakeholders, with an emphasis on psychological safety, transparency, and avoiding duplication of previous surveys or engagement efforts.
Systems Analysis and Recommendations
The proposed scope includes examining how district policies, procedures, and practices influence staff experiences and organizational outcomes. The selected partner is expected to identify strengths and areas for improvement and develop recommendations with implementation considerations.
The RFP identifies desired deliverables including synthesized analysis, summaries of strengths and challenges, a prioritized action framework, and presentations or facilitated discussions with district leadership and Board representatives.
Financial Items
Proposed Equity Audit Contract
Vendor proposals included different proposed costs for the equity audit work. One proposal included in the packet from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates lists a proposed fixed fee of $60,000 for the Equity Learning and Systems Review engagement.
Another proposal from K12 Coalition lists a total quote of $34,000, including professional services and associated expenses described in the proposal.
The packet presents these as vendor proposal amounts for committee consideration; it does not by itself document a final selection or contract award.
Project Timeline
The RFP states that the project is expected to begin September 1, 2026. It identifies preliminary recommendations as expected by February 28, 2027 for consideration during the FY28 budget cycle, with the project expected to conclude no later than June 30, 2027.
Vendor proposals include proposed work phases covering activities such as project kickoff, document review, stakeholder engagement, systems analysis, recommendations, implementation planning, and final presentations.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- The committee is scheduled to consider vendor proposals for the equity audit engagement.
- Discussion may focus on how proposals align with the district’s stated goals for equity learning, systems review, stakeholder engagement, and actionable recommendations.
- The packet includes proposed scopes, timelines, deliverables, and pricing from vendors for committee review.
- Any final selection, authorization, or contract action would need to be documented through official meeting action materials.
