PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
Break out the backpacks.
It's the first day of school for thousands of children in Oregon and southwest Washington.
Most of the more than 47,000 children who attend Portland Public Schools are back to school today.
The final numbers won't be in until October, but district officials said they expect enrollment in the district will be up this year.
And once they are in class, district officials want to make sure they keep showing up. Attendance is a big priority this year.
For the second year, staff will be personally calling middle and high schoolers who fail to show up for the first day of school. Repeated absences will result in a home visit. This year, PPS staff will be joined by city and community volunteers on those visits as well.
Portland students won't notice significant changes in the classroom this year. Last spring, district officials considered cutting more than 100 teaching positions because of budget woes. The city contributed $5 million to Portland schools and the teachers' union made cuts as well, avoiding those layoffs.
About 50,000 students who attend Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen Public Schools will also start a new school year Wednesday.
The Vancouver School District is celebrating the opening of a new magnet school, Vancouver iTech Preparatory. It focuses on science, technology, engineering and math, and will eventually serve sixth- to 12th-grade students, administrators said.
Unlike some other districts in the region, administrators with the Vancouver Public Schools said the district is not facing state budget cuts for the first time in a decade, administrators said.
Voters within the district will decide on a maintenance and operations levy next February to replace one that expires in 2013. The district's Board of Directors will also consider placing a technology levy on the ballot, as well.
Along with Portland and Vancouver schools, several other districts will start today, including Hillsboro and Battle Ground. Middle and high school students will head back to class in the North Clackamas and Beaverton school districts.
SEND US YOUR PHOTO: Back to school | SLIDESHOW: Your back to school photos
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
