PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Public Schools teachers have now been on strike for three weeks. Some older students are beginning to worry that missed class time could leave them unprepared for intensive final exams.
Students in AP (advancement placement) classes are scheduled to take final exams in early May. The date of those tests, which are taken by high schoolers nationwide, cannot be changed.
"The entire country takes the exact same test,” McDaniel High School sophomore Clara Gordon said. “All of us Portland students are going to be way behind."
Gordon is enrolled in AP psychology. She joined the class three weeks into the start of the fall semester. Now, three weeks into the teacher strike, Gordon has missed six weeks of class time.
"It's hard enough to stay on track and to fully learn everything,” Gordon said. “And now, it's going to be way harder."
Other students are having similar issues.
"There are things I can learn away from the classroom, but it really isn't the same," Rowan Recinos, a senior at Grant High School said.
Recinos is enrolled in AP Spanish and biology. Both Recinos and Gordon have picketed in support of teachers but said being out of class has been challenging.
"It's difficult because we're really reliant on our teachers," Recinos said.
Recinos still believes that Portland Public Schools students can be well prepared for AP tests in May, though some parents are more pessimistic.
"They're on their own right now," Eric Happel, a parent of Lincoln High School students said.
Happel’s daughter is in Lincoln High’s International Baccalaureate program, which generally takes two years. Students can receive college credit in courses they take, though IB tests are also in May.
"We're going to see some kids who are going to have a very hard time getting through this," Happel said.
KGW asked Portland Public Schools if there were any plans to make up lost class time for students in AP and IB classes before tests in May, but has not yet received a response.
Portland Public Schools and PAT, the teachers union, continue to bargain this weekend. Still, students are growing more stressed, as a deal still has not been reached.
"I'm sure I'm way behind, but I have no idea," Gordon said.