Parents, Teachers and Students Speak Out for Online Learning Academy

 Portland Public Schools plan to close a program for online learning, that started with COVID-19 federal money. Online Learning Academy will end this school year.  Some students, parents and teachers argue the COVID online learning program should continue.

Online Learning Academy, changed his autistic son from a failing student with frequent disciplinary write ups, to exceeding expectations without the discipline problems.  The father told the school board: “Kids with disabilities don’t get the support they need.”

A student said the program helped him and his family thrive.

A teacher said bullying, drugs and health problems keep many away from the in person schools: “Many of my students feel unsafe.”

 However, the school district says the Online Learning Academy’s had a big drop in enrollment, since it started in the 2021-22 school year, and plans to end it in June.