Whatever you're building, we're here to help you take the first step with confidence.
Please reach out to the school or PTA if you have any questions or resources to add to the list.
As significant changes are occurring at the federal level that are causing uncertainty and confusion, the Bridlemile PTA wants to reaffirm our commitment to honoring, supporting and protecting every member of our community with the shared purpose of creating an environment where our children can all grow to be the best versions of themselves. We know many members of our community may be feeling scared or concerned — either for themselves or for others. If there are ways in which we can support you and your family, please reach out to pta@bridlemileschool.org.
Our Commitment to Our Community
Statewide School Advocacy
Support & Resources
Action Alert: Oregon School Funding
Make 2026 the year you become an active part of our statewide advocacy!
Key Dates
Feb. 5: Fight for our Future Rally in Salem (RSVP)
Feb. 17: In-person Bridlemile PTA general meeting + special guest
Feb. 23: Oregon Parent + Community Led Lobby Day in Salem (RSVP)
Right now, our public schools need more resources to meet the growing needs of our classrooms. In Portland and across the state, we have experienced significant cuts in education funding in recent years. Our district, Portland Public Schools, lost $40 million this school year (2025-26) on top of millions in recent years. We are now facing potential cuts mid-year due to federal budget reductions, and are anticipating cuts of $50 million more next year.
Our Oregon State Legislators will convene in Salem soon to make decisions that will have enormous impacts on our schools—and too often, parent voices go unheard. They will be deciding on possibly more budget cuts during, and they need to hear from you to demand they take tangible steps this session to strengthen and protect school funding.
Consider watching this Oregon PTA short video about how Oregon’s State School Funding to learn more!
Where to get started? Help lend your voice to this Winter 2026 Advocacy Action Alert.
TAKE ACTION NOW - SEND YOUR LAWMAKER AN EMAIL TODAY
Use this School Funding Message Template to send a short message to your lawmakers about the impacts an underfunded public school system has on your students. Ask them to advocate for these revenue reform opportunities this upcoming 2026 legislative session:
Approve use of our state reserve funds — specifically the Education Stability Fund and Corporate Activity Tax — to avoid catastrophic midyear cuts that hurt our schoolchildren. Please do not make any further cuts to public education as our classrooms cannot afford it this year.
Pass Representative Gamba’s upcoming Revenue Forecast Modernization Act. This will revise the tax rebate known as the “kicker” to ensure funds don’t get concentrated with the wealthiest who need it least and the revenue can get redistributed in a way that supports public education.
Advocate to decouple Oregon's tax rate from the federal tax rate. Oregon mirrors federal tax policy by law. We need a tax code that cares for Oregonians, not multinational corporations and the ultra wealthy. Oregon should decide which federal tax policies to keep or kick to the curb, but we need the legislature to vote to de-couple first so we can have that choice.
Strongly Oppose Bill LC 43: the QEM Revision. LC-43 intends to revise the Quality Education Model (QEM) to shift public education into a system dependent on contracts awarded based on the sole discretion of an unelected administrator, with little public oversight. It would drastically change learning goals from those aimed at a broad educational approach to those focused on narrow metrics and assessments, and would be the first step to limiting funding for schools. This is not the change we need. Read this Oregon PTA primer for more information.
Join the Oregon PTA Advocacy Leader Group
Sign up to be connected with other advocacy leads across Oregon to exchange ideas and best practices, and plan collective action and bring ideas and actions back to our community. You can join by emailing the Oregon PTA Advocacy Chair at legislation@oregonpta.org or by directly registering using this Google form. By signing up to Oregon PTA Local Advocacy Alerts our PTA (and by extension our community) becomes part of a stronger statewide network that ensures our communities are represented and our children's needs are prioritized.
Immigration
Support & Resources
In light of recent policy changes under the new administration, we have put together a list of resources to help Bridlemile families feel safe and seen.
Please reach out to the school or PTA if you have any questions or resources to add to the list.
Oregon Dept of Education (ODE)
Oregon Public Education and Immigration Enforcement FAQ: FAQs about immigration enforcement and education in Oregon.
Oregon for All Schools Toolkit (Updated Jan 2025): Includes resources for supporting immigrant students.
Every Student Belongs Guidance: ODE guidance on creating inclusive and supportive environments for all students.
PPS Resources
PPS Protocol: Immigration Rights FAQ - outlines the policies of PPS regarding interactions with ICE agents, specifying what is and is not allowed. It also provides a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section to clarify rights and protocols.
PPS School Board Resolution (Nov 2016): Affirms support for immigrant students, families, and staff.
Immigration Resources
Latino Network: Know your rights videos - English & Spanish
Latino Network: Protect your Family videos - English & Spanish
Red Cards: A resource for immigrant families, detailing rights; options for distributing them to parents. The scripts on these cards are as follows:
ENGLISH:
I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
I choose to exercise my constitutional rights. These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.
SPANISH:
Usted tiene derechos constitucionales:
NO ABRA LA PUERTA si un agente de inmigración está tocando la puerta.
NO CONTESTE NINGUNA PREGUNTA de un agente de inmigración si trata de hablar con usted. Usted tiene el derecho a guardar silencio.
NO FIRME NADA sin antes hablar con un abogado. Usted tiene el derecho de hablar con un abogado. • Si usted está fuera de su casa, pregúntele al agente si tiene la libertad de irse y si le dice que sí, váyase con tranquilidad.
ENTRÉGUELE ESTA TARJETA EL AGENTE. Si usted está dentro de su casa, muestre la tarjeta por la ventana o pásela debajo de la puerta.
Real or Rumor: How to Verify Online Reports of ICE Raids: A resource for helping the community verify rumors about ICE actions.
15 Things Educators & School Support Staff Can Do: Tips for supporting immigrant youth and families, available in English and Spanish.
NEA Toolkit: Supporting immigrant families and students.
ACLU Know Your Rights (Immigration): Legal rights and protections for immigrant students and families.
Family Preparedness Plans: Encouraging families create preparedness plans, especially in elementary schools.
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Resource: Know Your Rights Preparedness Packet.
Latino Network: Immigration resources and video guides (in English and Spanish) on "Know Your Rights" and "Protect Your Family."
Foreign Citizens: Embassy & Consulate Finder: A tool for locating embassy and consulate support for foreign citizens.
Immigration Services in Oregon:
Asociación Americana de Abogados de Inmigración (AILA)
Puede entrar a la página electrónica, seleccionar español, y buscar un abogado cerca del área en donde vive. Los abogados que aparecen en esta lista están autorizados para ofrecer asistencia jurídica en casos de inmigración.
Website: www.ailalawyer.com
Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services (CCILS)
Address: 2740 SE Powell Blvd. #2, Portland, OR 97202
Phone: (503) 542-2855
Website: www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org
Centro de Servicios para Campesinos de PCUN
Address: 300 Young Street, Woodburn, OR 97071
Phone: (503) 982-0243 ext 100
Website: www.pcun.org
Center for Nonprofit Legal Services
Address: 225 W Main Street, Medford, OR 97501
Phone: (541) 779-7292
Website: www.cnpls.org
Address: 333 SW 5th Ave. #250, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 1 (888) 274-7292; (503) 360-0324
Email: info@equityCorps.org
Website: https://equitycorps.org
Immigration Counseling Services
Address: Portland: 519 SW Park Avenue, Suite 610, Portland, OR 97205; Hood River: 1100 E Marina Way, Suite 228, Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: Portland: (503) 221-1689; Hood River: (541) 399-8029
Email: consult@ics-law.org
Website: www.ics-law.org
Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) - Oficina de SE Portland
Address: 605 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 231-7480
Website: www.lcsnw.org
Phone: 1(888) 274-7292
Website: www.pueblounidopdx.org
Address: Portland: 7931 NE Halsey St., Ste. 302, Portland, OR 97213; Hillsboro: 862 SE Oak St #3A, Hillsboro, OR 97123
Phone: (503) 384-2482
Email: Portland: soarlegal@emoregon.org; Hillsboro: soarlegalhillsboro@emoregon.org
Website: www.soarlegal.org
LGBTQ2SIA+
Support & Resources
NEA Toolkit: Defending the freedom of LGBTQ+ students to be themselves.
ACLU Know Your Rights: Information for LGBTQ+ students on their rights in school.
LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan: A comprehensive plan for supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ students.
PPS LGBTQ2SIA+ Program Manager Guidelines: Steps for teachers to take when witnessing or experiencing unsafe behavior toward LGBTQ+ students from adults, including reporting options through Safe Oregon.7
Assess for physical safety: If the situation is unsafe
Step In: If you can do so safely, intervene immediately and let the person know their behavior isn’t okay and, if appropriate, invite them to leave the premises. If the person is a clear physical threat to student or staff safety, call 911.Then contact PPS Security Services at (503) 916-3000.
Document the Incident: Write down what happened, and report it to your building administration team right away.
Use Safe Oregon: If you don’t feel comfortable reporting directly, you can use the Safe Oregon tool to report anonymously.