Join Trying Together and Remake Learning for a Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Lunch & Learn. Be a part of the conversation on the ways in which we can support schools and educators implementing a suspension ban policy using DAP guidelines.

In 2017 Pittsburgh Public Schools became the first school district in Pennsylvania to pass a ban on suspending students in kindergarten through second grade for minor, non-violent offenses. Philadelphia followed by expanding the district’s suspension ban from kindergarten to include first and second grade.

What are effective ways to support schools and educators implementing a suspension ban policy?

Conversation will review the policy background, current context, and the importance of a developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in teaching young children and addressing behaviors.

This session will be interactive and provide participants an opportunity to discuss challenges and share best practices on how we can use preventative and responsive strategies to create an environment that supports educators, families, and children in ways that are intentional, developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, gender responsive, and trauma informed.

Additionally, we will exclusively release our latest white paper – “End Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsions: Developmentally Appropriate Practices and Policies for Addressing Behaviors in School Settings”- to attendees of the Lunch & Learn.

To learn more about Developmentally Appropriate Practice, read the white paper “Advance Developmentally Appropriate Practice: How Young Children Learn”, and watch our corresponding webinar, which highlights the importance of play in a child’s learning and development of cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

This event is free and open to the public, however, registration is required. 

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) announced it will be operating on a 2-hour early release schedule on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 and Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

Out of concern for the safety of students and staff, the 2-hour early release is in response to record high temperatures to provide relief to those inside schools without air conditioning, where temperatures can reach above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

“The 2-hour release for all schools will ensure sufficient transportation coverage as well as assist our families, with children in different schools, in planning appropriate childcare. As part of the 2-hour early release, all schools and early childhood centers (students and staff) will be dismissed exactly 2-hours earlier than their normal dismissal time.

Middle and high school athletics will continue at the discretion of head coaches. Schools will contact families if practices or games are canceled or rescheduled. All other afterschool activities are canceled. All Central Administration offices will remain open.

Additional early releases may be called as temperatures are expected to rise throughout the week. The District will progress monitor daily and keep families and staff informed of any schedule changes.”

For more information, read the full announcement via the PPS Official Facebook Page.  

For assistance with finding child care options, please call 2-1-1.

An initiative of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, the Recess Advocacy Team is a group of organizations dedicated to health and wellness, education, and play with a focus on recess practices and policies in Pre-K through 6th grade in Allegheny County. Sign up to learn more about the team, our work, next steps, or how to get involved. 

The recess advocacy team seeks to:

• Educate and advocate for the importance of recess.
• Engage with children, families, and educators on recess experiences.
• Establish a resource for recess-related advocacy, policy, and best practices for both families and educators.
• Engage stakeholders (additional organizations, parents, community members, teachers, principals, etc.) to support recess advocacy work.

Additionally, the Recess Advocacy Team created a survey to go out to parents, caregivers and educators in Allegheny County in order to highlight best practices and offer support for recess across Allegheny County. Find the survey online.