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School meals continue to be free of charge but for students that purchase extras such as drinks and chips, families should be aware that the Portland Public Schools Food Service is transitioning to a new payment software in the spring of 2026 — and the current payment software, PayPAMS, will no longer be taking online payments for students’ meal accounts after December 31, 2025. The system will still be available for students to be able to deposit cash or checks at their schools.

On Dec. 3, Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon sent a letter to the PPS community disagreeing with recent hateful rhetoric regarding immigrants and specifically the Somali community. The superintendent reiterated the district's support for all students, staff and community members. Read the letter:

Reiche Elementary School is the latest of three newly renovated Portland Public Schools' elementary schools to attain Silver Certification from LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Presumpscot and Longfellow schools were awarded the certification last year. The certification recognizes the schools’ lower energy costs, improved air quality and healthier learning environments overall.

The Gambo Dam in Windham was the setting in September for Portland Public Schools third-graders to get some real-life lessons about life science and the Wabanaki, the Indigenous peoples whose homeland encompasses present-day Maine. The students got to experience the dam’s impact on the Presumpscot River in person and learned from Wabanaki guides about the relationship of animals and humans to the ecosystem.

Six outstanding Portland Public Schools educators are taking on new administrative roles, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) is thrilled to announce that it has received a $1 million donation, half of which is earmarked for supporting arts and music education in the Portland Public Schools system. The donation, made by anonymous donors through the Maine Community Foundation, will allow FPPS to build on existing arts and music programs and launch a new arts partnership. The remaining $500,000 from this generous donation is an unrestricted gift to FPPS.

More than 30 Portland Public Schools employees are retiring this school year. The retirees were honored by the Portland Board of Public Education and the district in a ceremony on Tuesday, June 10. Those recognized have served throughout the district and held a wide variety of roles in service of students and families.

Superintendent Ryan Scallon and Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz issued a statement expressing gratitude to City voters for their decisive approval June 10 of the Portland Public Schools’ budget for fiscal year 2026. Voters also elected retired Portland High School music teacher Jayne Sawtelle to a vacant at-large Board seat.

The Portland Public schools will be operating various summer meal sites at 11 locations across the city of Portland this summer. All children and teens 18 years and younger can receive a nutritious meal free of charge to be enjoyed on site. Most sites will begin serving on Wednesday, June 25. Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children and teens can attend any of the meal site locations convenient to them.

Initial public engagement sessions regarding the work of the Attendance Boundaries Advisory Committee are set for early June. Here are the dates, times and locations of the meetings (PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOCATION OF THE JUNE 3 MEETING HAS BEEN CHANGED TO EAST END COMMUNITY SCHOOL):

• Monday, June 2, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, in person at Ocean Avenue Elementary School
• Tuesday, June 3, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, in person at East End Community School
• Wednesday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, VIRTUAL. Here's the link to join. 

The City Council voted unanimously on May 19 to approve the $171.8 million 2025-2026 school year budget recommended by the Portland Board of Public Education. The vote now sends the budget to City voters on June 10. The budget balances fiscal constraints with necessary investments to increase academic rigor, foster a joyful and supportive school culture and help provide more effective instruction to students with disabilities. It would raise the school portion of the property tax rate by 5.33 percent ($0.42 per $1,000 of assessed value). For the owner of a median-priced $500,000 home, the budget would increase property taxes by $210 per year or $17.50 per month.

The New England Environmental Finance Center (NEEFC) at the University of Southern Maine is working with the Portland Public Schools (PPS) on a comprehensive environmental audit and action plan to reduce waste and improve sustainability in 17 of the district’s elementary, middle and high schools. 

An inaccurate May 1 story by News Center Maine (WCSH6) about the meeting that night of the district's Attendance Boundaries Advisory Committee has generated confusion regarding Lincoln Middle School. At the district's request, WCSH6 has retracted the news report. Please view the following communication from the Portland Public Schools that addresses the inaccuracies and clarifies the role of the Advisory Committee: