The impetus for public school desegregation in Portland came through the efforts of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during the 1960's. The Portland Board of Education moved in 1963 to extablish a blue ribbon, independent committee on education and race. This citizen's committee recommended a series of individual actions to be taken by the Portland Board of Education which would be aimed over time at desegregating the schools. The board of education accepted the recommendations. In 1964 the Portland board began a voluntary transfer program which involved the transportation of minority students to predominantly white schools. The following year, substantive educational policy changes were implemented which included the creation of model schools, the head start program, and compensatory learning activities. The voluntary administrative transfer system was strengthened in 1972 through the recruitment of 725 minority students into the program. This action was supported by more intensive inservice training for faculty and staff. From 1973 to 1975 the board of education continued its backing of desegregation actions through policy statements and guidelines, the development of early childhood centers in the inner city, support for reorganization, and symbolic moves such as a proposal for an annual school award for interracial understanding. Portland's desegregation effort has been limited in scope and limited in success. Because the desegregation program is voluntary, desegregation has not produced change throughout the city's schools. (Author/AM)