PSU to Partner on Five-Year Wallace Foundation Grant for Equity-Centered Principal Pipeline 

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Portland State University shares common geography, community, students and mission with the largest school district in Oregon. In addition, PSU prepares the highest number of education administrators and leaders in the state through the PSU principal licensure program.  
 

Portland Public Schools (PPS) announced this week that the district is one of just eight school districts in the country chosen to receive an $8.2 million, five-year grant from the Wallace Foundation. The goal is to build an equity-centered principal pipeline, accelerating progress on racial equity and social justice commitments to students and the larger community. 

“Our partnership on this Equity-Centered Pipeline initiative is one more step in our collective effort to serve children of every race, ethnicity, home language and socio-economic background,” said professor Susan Carlile, director of PSU’s principal licensure program. “We are honored to collaborate with leaders in Portland Public Schools on this important effort.”

PSU’s College of Education will help to prepare and train principals and principal candidates to promote racial equity and inclusive environments for Portland, serving as a model for other school districts regionally.

"This five-year grant will disrupt historic patterns in our education system by better preparing equity-centered leaders in our schools,” said Dr. Jose Coll, interim dean of PSU’s College of Education. “We look forward to partnering with PPS to engage in more innovative and transformative practices that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of students."

PSU will work in partnership with Portland Public Schools, Lewis & Clark College, Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the Oregon Educator Advancement Council. The Wallace Foundation will conduct research on grantee strategies and successes as part of the grant to inform and add to the growing national dialog on how to improve equity leadership in public education.  

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