Stories from your childhood

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Advocacy for today’s kids

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Recess is a live storytelling show for Oregonians who care about public education

Public education in Oregon is severely underfunded

Oregon’s public schools have been underfunded since the 1990s.

In 2001, Oregon created a commission to determine what a “quality education” means and how much money is needed to achieve that goal — updated every two years.

Our schools are now in the hole by about $18 billion to $22 billion dollars.

Why? Because the Oregon Legislature and Governor have chosen to underfund schools by $1 - $3 billion dollars every biennium since its own commission began putting a number on what a “quality education” costs.

And — a 2025 report showed that we actually need even more money to fund a quality education than previously thought.

“Evaluation of Oregon’s Quality Education Model,” American Institutes of Research, Feb. 2025, hired by the State of Oregon.

How Much is a Billion, Really?

We can’t bakesale our way out of this

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We can’t bakesale our way out of this 〰️

Why do we keep making it harder for kids?

You were a kid once. You know how hard it can be.

Did you know that a healthy relationship with even just one skilled, caring grownup can positively impact the entire trajectory of a kid’s life?

That’s powerful.

Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience: Working Paper No. 13. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2015). 

Here’s who cannot provide extra support:

A teacher with 30+ kids in the class.

A part-time counselor covering an entire school. 

A librarian splitting time between 3 schools.

A special education teacher assigned a different location every year.

Want to do something right now?

    • Look up who represents you in the Oregon House and Senate

    • Save their contact info in your phone and call or email regularly.

    • Just say you’re a constituent, why public education matters to you, and that you’ll be watching the next legislative season closely.

  • Volunteering your time at school makes a huge, direct impact.

    For Portland Public Schools, start here. Fill out the short application and the required background check.

    Then contact your child’s teacher, your school’s parent organization, or your school office and find out how you can help!

What’s the point of a storytelling show?

  • 4-5 parents will prepare and tell true stories about their own childhood:

    • That embarrassing moment they thought they’d never survive

    • When they didn’t make the team, the grade, the play 

    • How they found out why they call it “a crush”

  • Public school is where we experience new struggles – and have skilled, caring grownups guide us

    Public school is where we meet people who are different from us – and make friends with them

    Public school is where we learn about our history – and gain tools to build our future

    Public school is where all kids should have the opportunity to thrive, no matter their zipcode, the color of their skin, or their individual needs

  • How is public education is funded? Who makes those decisions? And how should parents speak up if they want to see things change?

    Parents, teachers, staff, and students are experts in what our communities need.

    We shouldn’t have to be policy experts to have a seat at the table.

Host a Recess Storytelling Show

We’re producing up to 6 pop-up shows between May 2026 and February 2027, leading up to the next Oregon legislative session.

Let’s bring one to your school community!