Stories from your childhood
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Advocacy for today’s kids
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Recess is a live storytelling show for Oregonians who care about funding public education
Public Education in Oregon is Severely Underfunded
Oregon’s public schools have been underfunded since the 1990s.
In 2001, Oregon created a commission to determine what a “quality education” means and how much money is needed to achieve that goal — updated every two years.
Our schools are now in the hole by about $18 billion to $22 billion dollars.
Why? Because the Oregon Legislature and Governor have chosen to underfund schools by $1 - $3 billion dollars every biennium since its own commission began putting a number on what a “quality education” costs.
We can’t bakesale our way out of this
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We can’t bakesale our way out of this 〰️
Why Do We Keep Making it Harder for Kids?
You were a kid once. You know how hard it can be.
Did you know that a healthy relationship with even just one skilled, caring grownup at school can positively impact the entire trajectory of a kid’s life?
That’s powerful.
Here’s Who Cannot Provide Adequate Support:
A teacher with 30+ kids in the class.
A part-time counselor covering an entire school.
A librarian splitting time between 3 schools.
A special education teacher assigned a different location every year.
Want to Do Something Right Now?
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Look up who represents you in the Oregon House and Senate
Save their contact information in your phone and call or email regularly.
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Sign up to get the latest from Community and Parents for Public Schools
See the legislative agenda from Oregon Partners for Education Justice
Find advocacy resources at the Oregon PTA or Oregon School Boards Association
Check out the Oregon Education Association (specifically for educators but great resources for the community)
Read education news from Oregon Public Broadcasting
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Volunteering your time at school makes a huge, direct impact.
For Portland Public Schools, start here. Fill out the short application and the required background check.
Then contact your child’s teacher, your school’s parent organization, or your school office and find out how you can help!
What’s the Point of a Storytelling Show?
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5 parents will prepare and tell true stories about their own childhood:
That embarrassing moment they thought they’d never survive
When they didn’t make the team, the grade, the play
How they found out why they call it “a crush”
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Public school is where we experience new struggles – and have skilled, caring grownups guide us
Public school is where we meet people who are different from us – and make friends with them
Public school is where we learn about our history – and gain tools to build our future
Public school is where all kids should have the opportunity to thrive, no matter their zipcode, the color of their skin, or their individual needs
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How is public education is funded? Who makes those decisions? And how should parents speak up if they want to see things change?
Parents, teachers, staff, and students are experts in what our communities need.
We shouldn’t have to be policy experts to have a seat at the table.
Host a Recess Storytelling Show
We’re producing up to 8 pop-up shows between May 2026 and February 2027, leading up to the next Oregon legislative session.
Let’s bring one to your school community!