Natalie Pate

Families, former Portland Public Schools employees fight cuts to language services PPS dismantled the Language Access Services team this past spring amid millions of dollars in budget cuts. They say needed services are still provided, but some argue vulnerable families are worse off...

@opb.org The LAS staff worked out of different school buildings, often attending sensitive meetings, including discipline hearings and meetings for students with disabilities. They also managed the district’s language line, a mandated resource for non-English-speaking families.

Declining enrollment, shrinking budget push Corvallis to consider closing schools Corvallis is among the latest school districts to look at closing schools in light of Oregon’s education budget crisis.

And finally, districts across the country are facing enrollment declines and budget issues. Some are closing entire schools as a solution. I recently wrote about what was described by many as a "brutal" school closure process in Corvallis:

Are the kids OK? A look at how a generation of COVID students is faring in Oregon There’s been some but little recovery since the global pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. McMinnville shows there’s hope if the right support is in place.

2025 marked five years since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. I went into one elementary school to get a glimpse of how the students who missed out on in-person kindergarten, in particular, are doing:

Woodburn educators propose protections from ICE as part of their employee contract The teachers union is looking for ways to bolster protection for staff and students amid influx of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in communities across the state.

The presence of ICE officials in and near school communities has been a defining element of this year so far. One district's unions tried to take preventative steps as a way to better protect its staff members:

Why do Southwest Washington schools seem to have more strikes? History, relationships and news media could all play a part in the regionally clustered labor actions, experts say.

The start of the new school year in Southwest Washington was largely defined by strained labor relations in various school districts. We tried to understand why:

What to know about Salem’s water emergency and what’s being done to prevent it A look inside the Salem water treatment facility at the heart of a major regional conversation.

In August, I sought clarity on a potential drinking water crisis that could affect residents of Oregon's capital next year:

Nation's largest teachers union gathers in Portland, Oregon As the Trump administration continues its efforts to shrink the federal government's role in education, members of the nation's largest teachers union are gathering in Portland, Oregon.

This summer, I covered @neatoday.bsky.social's annual assembly, which took place in Portland, Ore., for @npr.org:

#ICYMI: Here are a few stories from recent months, including major issues facing educators and families, plus a non-education story on Salem's drinking water. Take a look! 🧵

How AI is changing education in Oregon YouTube video by Oregon Public Broadcasting

#ICYMI: Oregon students and teachers already use Artificial Intelligence tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harass peers. Here’s a look at some of the benefits and dangers of AI in K-12 schools. More at @opb.org!

What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schools Students and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harass peers.

Today's podcast episode was produced by Peter Frick-Wright. For more on how AI tools are being used in Oregon K-12 schools, check out reporting by OPB's @nataliepategwin.bsky.social & Emily Hamilton:

What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schools Students and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harass peers.

Students and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks, serve as a helpful study tool and help close gaps for students with disabilities. But it can also be used to bully and harass peers, and it takes an environmental toll. Let's dig in:

#Oregon and #SWWashington school districts! As we gear up for #backtoschool season, let me know what you've got going on. School supply drives? Free meal options? Information sessions for families on key issues facing them this school year? Email me at npate@opb.org 🤓 🍎 📝 📚

Another year at the Oregon High School Journalism Institute in the books ♥️ ✍🏼 📸 📰 ✨

School funding, college costs and book bans: What did lawmakers do for young people in Oregon’s 2025 legislative session? The struggles of Oregon’s public schools competed for attention in the 2025 legislative session, as lawmakers debated a range of challenges — from wildfire and transportation funding to affordable housing to tensions with the Trump administration.

K-12 school spending rose to meet anticipated costs. But child care, preschool and higher education were on the chopping block. Legislators frequently found themselves debating the boundaries between what state officials should do and what should be left to local school leaders.

One Woodburn man opts to go home to Mexico on his own terms As the Trump administration continues to close the doors on immigrants to the country, some are considering leaving. But one man who built a live in Oregon said leaving Trump's America is not a black and white choice.

Luis Lamas came to America as a tourist in 2021, but stayed and found work in some demanding jobs. He eventually made his way to Woodburn, running a coffee stand. But as immigration crackdowns grew, he feared detention and chose to return to Mexico. America, he said, “It’s not for me.”

School funding, college costs and book bans: What did lawmakers do for young people in Oregon’s 2025 legislative session? K-12 school spending rose to meet anticipated costs. But child care, preschool and higher education were on the chopping block.

You can also read the full digital story by Tiffany Camhi and me here. More loose ends may be covered next week as the session finishes wrapping up.

‘OPB Politics Now’: What Oregon lawmakers have, have not done on education issues this session We take a deep dive into the education-related policies that have — and have not — moved in Salem this session.

@opb.org: A LOT went down this legislative session. We could only talk about some of it, but listen to my deep dive with Bryce Dole here:

How a small moment changed a student’s relationship to school, set them on a career path they’re still following a decade later Kal Sibbel can pinpoint the exact moment his life changed course.

Happy end of the school year! Let me tell you about a recent Hillsboro graduate I got to speak with 🎓

Many Oregon schools still aren’t equipped to handle extreme temperatures The average age of K-12 school buildings in Oregon is 56 years. Experts say most weren’t built with today’s environmental factors in mind, so it’s costly and complicated to fix it.

The average age of K-12 school buildings in Oregon is 56 years. Experts say most weren’t built with today’s environmental factors in mind, so it’s costly and complicated to fix them. My latest:

Hard to believe, but today marks my 10 year journalism anniversary. This job is an immense privilege, and I cannot thank the people who have trusted me to share their stories and perspectives enough ♥️

Special education is costly and complicated. A Salem-Keizer middle schooler shows how it can pay off Educators are fighting for more money at the district, state and federal levels for students with disabilities.

@opb.org 🎙️ Read and listen to DJ’s story here. My latest:

Wanna connect? Feel free to reach out here or at npate@opb.org with questions, comments, story tips, etc. For those who stuck with this thread, I applaud you 👏

A black and white pitbull mix dog sits in a black office chair. He has headphones over his ears as he looks at a computer screen.

Outside of journalism, I'm a published children's book author, aspiring voice-over actor and semi-pro dog snuggler to Mr. Bandit (seen here, working hard). I perform w/ local theatres + volunteer at a county dog shelter. You'll often find me exploring, guzzling coffee or with my nose in a good book.

While book ban attempts increase nationally, one Oregon library has kept requests low The number of book ban requests has increased nationally by more than 128% in the last three years.

Outside my work with OPB, I also serve as the journalistic consultant for Willamette University's independent student newspaper, The Collegian. And this year will be my third summer as a mentor for the High School Journalism Institute at OSU. Student journalists are AMAZING! 🙌

Six things Oregonians should think about as they vote in local school board races An in-depth guide to help voters navigate their local school board races on the May 20 ballot.

I try to get a varied mix of voices in my coverage, focusing on students, school staff, parents and advocates who deal with education issues every day. My goal? To make readers smarter about the issues facing their communities and to help share the experiences of those most impacted.

Teachers in Oregon have found a solution for burnout: stand up comedy Some teachers have found a way to combat classroom burnout: stand up comedy. In Oregon, the Teacher Show features professors, preschool teachers and everyone in between joking about their day jobs.

In my nearly two years w/ OPB, I've written about a wide range of topics, including labor strikes, sexual abuse of students, state funding debates and teachers who moonlight as stand-up comedians. Lately, I've been busy w/ elections, local impacts of Trump policies, the legislative session and more.

The path to prison is often paved by illiteracy. Yet many prisoners aren't being taught to read Evidence connects low literacy with the likelihood individuals could return to prison. Yet Oregon doesn't prioritize literacy resources for prisoners.

One of my favorite projects I've done was an in-depth investigation on the importance + lack of literacy education for adults in U.S. prisons. This was made possible w/ an @edwriters.bsky.social's fellowship. It also ran in USA TODAY. I presented my findings at the World Literacy Summit at Oxford.

On the Outside Podcast · Natalie Pate · “On the Outside” is a limited-series podcast focused on the stories and experiences of youth with currently or formerly incarcerated parents. “On the Outside” is hosted by jou...

I was also the host and producer of "On the Outside," a 2023 limited-series podcast focused on the stories and experiences of youth with currently or formerly incarcerated parents.

College tuition breaks for Native students spread, but some tribes are left out Some states are instituting free or reduced tuition programs for Native American students, but those from tribes not recognized by the federal government don’t qualify

I've had the privilege of covering education in Oregon for 10 years. You may have read my work at the Statesman Journal or some of my freelance stuff w/ @oregoncapitalchronicle.com, @hechingerreport.org and others. I'm a member of @edwriters.bsky.social and a former @ire.org fellow + mentor.

Reporter Natalie Pate sits on the floor of a classroom to the right of students in their desks. She holds a recorder with a microphone and wears headphones to hear what it is recording.

First things first, hello! My name is Natalie. I'm a K-12 education reporter and producer at OPB. That means I cover schools across Oregon and SW Washington, online and on the radio. You may hear me occasionally on @npr.org as well.