ABOUT VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS IN PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) refers to the disciplines of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. Portland Public Schools' VAPA Program operates within the Office of Teaching and Learning.
PPS offers arts education to 78 schools across the district. With over 200 certified arts teachers, we are one of the largest organizations providing arts education in the state of Oregon. We offer multiple opportunities for artistic expression from kindergarten through twelfth grade, beginning level to pre-professional.
COMMITTMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
The work of disrupting institutional racism and moving toward a more equitable society is constant and never ending. PPS VAPA prioritizes Racial Equity & Social Justice (RESJ) when making decisions that impact Visual & Performing Arts students, teachers, and stakeholders.
We work to ensure that instructional materials, resources, and pedagogy are grounded in culturally relevant, responsive, & sustaining practices in all arts disciplines.
We work to provide continued professional learning that engages teachers and administrators in addressing systemic inequities that impact students in arts education.
When cultivating relationships with external arts partners, we work to ensure that RESJ is prioritized in all programs.
VAPA is committed to establishing and maintaining equitable access to high-quality arts programs as well as identifying and removing barriers for all students in PPS in the service of a more racially equitable and socially just world.
PPS VAPA VISION
All Portland Public School students will be creative, collaborative, and artistic individuals prepared for deep engagement with the world through exploring, understanding, and mastering the arts
MISSION STATEMENT
Portland Public Schools’ Visual and Performing Arts Department will ensure equitable access for all students to a high-quality dance, music, theatre, and visual arts education. Our highly-qualified arts teachers will achieve this through culturally responsive and standards-based curriculum. PPS will provide sequential visual and performing arts pathways district-wide, and engage community partners in arts programming.
FOR PPS ARTS EDUCATORS
Use the VAPA Teacher Portal to access important information and documents. Teachers must be signed in to their PPS/ Google accounts to access.
