Possible schools candidate earns mixed report card Providence, R.I., Superintendent Diana Lam, who is being courted to interview for the top schools job in Portland, is known as a smart, crusading reformer who moves quickly to improve schools for urban students. The Oregonian 6/26/02

Let's hope the jury is still out on this Lam Portland School Board is strongly leaning toward making the Providence, R.I., superintendent our new school leader. "Oh, God," reacts Tom Lopez, a San Antonio school board member for 18 years. Portland, he advises, just don't do it. The Oregonian 6/26/02

Oregon gets low grade for testing in schools The for-profit test preparation company Princeton Review on Tuesday scolded Oregon for having one of the nation's worst standardized-testing programs. And it praised Washington for having one of the best. Oregon officials said the study is riddled with errors and accused the company of pandering to states where it stands to make the most money. The Oregonian 6/19/02

School district sees money in open fields Portland Public Schools proposes to convert 60 acres of sports fields and green space into residential and commercial lots in a controversial deal being arranged by the district's real estate advisers. The Oregonian 6/19/02

Board woos two in schools chief search The Portland School Board is pursuing two East Coast superintendents to become finalists for Portland's next schools chief, The Oregonian has learned. Oregonian 6/14/02

Classroom fails on budgets Less than half the money spent on public schools is directed toward regular classroom instruction as educators devote more resources to payments on debt, building operations and programs for students with special needs. Oregonian 6/11/02