March 4, 2025 Public Source: Tutoring Program Makes Reading Fun to Bridge Literacy Gap An initiative of the Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania (LDA) is incorporating everything from movement to sandboxes and balls to make reading fun and, in the process, bridge the literacy gap for low-income students, Public Source wrote in a recent report. Learn More The LDA’s reading intervention initiative is divided into two programs: Early literacy tutoring, which offers group learning for children who need help reading between kindergarten and second grade One-on-one reading intervention for students of any age State and city statistics show that the LDA initiative is needed. Pennsylvania fourth graders who were kindergarteners at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic scored lower in reading than fourth graders in 2019, Public Source reported. And third-grade reading proficiency is at 46.2% – which is 1.6% lower than last year – in Pittsburgh Public Schools’ largest school district. A Multi-sensory Approach LDA’s reading programs use a multi-sensory approach that incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic senses to aid reading, Public Source reported. Students in Taylor Erickson’s class at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Hill District branch take part in “sky-writing.” They are encouraged to stand up, wiggle their bodies, and use their arms like pencils to trace letters. For more information on the LDA initiative, which provides free tutoring for both reading programs, read Public Source’s story.
December 10, 2024 A+ Schools Releases Annual Report to the Community on Public School Progress A+ Schools Pittsburgh has released its 2024 Report to the Community on Public Schools Progress. The report tackles issues that prevent every child from being successful in schools and covers such topics as racial economic segregation, absenteeism, unequal access to resources, and more. Skills for Success A+ Schools notes that children need knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in college or careers. It lists several conditions that must be met for this to occur: Every community has a place where children can get to school safely and on time. Every family has what they need – from healthcare and child care to housing and work – so children can come to school ready to learn. Every school is a place where all students and staff feel they belong and are excited to be. Executive Summary In its executive summary, A+ Schools cites racial economic segregation, unequal access to resources, and disparate opportunities for enrichment and academic success as issues that prevent children from succeeding. Additionally, system issues that impact state and local measures of school success include: Chronic absenteeism (how many students miss more than 10% of school days) Suspensions (how many students miss school due to disciplinary practices) Academic growth (how many schools grew student achievement as measured by the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System) Academic proficiency (or, how many students meet state and national grade level standards on tests) Next Steps The report also examines student readiness for college or careers once they graduate. The measures it lists that provide a sense of whether students will be ready for the next step include: College-ready GPA (how many students have a GPA of 2.8 or higher) AP exam taking and AP and SAT scores Graduation (how many students complete high within four years) College and trade school completion (how many students complete one of these schools within six years of graduation from high school) Figures The report’s executive summary breaks down the numbers on some of the aforementioned issues. Some of the key findings in the report relating to system issues, measures for success or readiness include: Approximately 2,402 Pittsburgh public school students have been suspended at least once. The ratio of students to teachers is 11:1 A total of 80% of teachers believe that their school is a good place to work and learn. Only 14% of public school teachers are teachers of color. About 32% of students are chronically absent. In 2023, 86% of students had graduated within four years. About 27% of 2018 graduates completed a college or trade school program within six years of graduating. The entire report is available on A+ Schools Pittsburgh’s website.
June 6, 2023 Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Hiring Event Are you passionate about supporting the needs of children? Would you like a job with a good starting salary, excellent health and dental benefits, and a retirement plan that can stabilize your future? If so, join Pittsburgh Public schools for this hiring event! Event Details Thursday, June 22 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Board of Education Building, 341 S. Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213 Register* *Please sign up for a 40-minute slot. When you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email with details about the location of the event, parking, and what to bring with you. If you would like to sign up for multiple interviews, you may sign up for a maximum of two slots. However, select your times carefully so that you do not select overlapping time slots. Additional Information For which types of roles is PPS hiring? PPS is hiring the following: Nurses Secretarial/Clerical Employees Security Aides and Police Officers Food Service Workers Custodial Staff What should I expect on the day of the event? When you arrive on the day of the event, you will check-in with PPS staff, have an opportunity to learn more and ask questions about Pittsburgh Public Schools benefits, and participate in a 15 minute interview. PPS asks that you arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time so that they can move all candidates through the interview process smoothly. Please plan to spend up to 60 minutes at the event. If weather permits, the interviews will be conducted outdoors, and there are a few short staircases to navigate to the interview areas. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations for your interview, please include that information in your sign up. Learn More To learn more, visit the PPS Hiring Event webpage. Please direct all questions to staffing@pghschools.org.
March 21, 2023 Vote School Board First Shares Key Election Information Vote School Board First! recently shared key dates regarding the 2023 Pittsburgh Primary Election and is encouraging voters in the City of Pittsburgh to vote for school board members on May 16, 2023. Vote School Board First! does not support or endorse any specific candidate. The coalition’s goal is to educate the community and promote increased participation in school board elections. Key Dates On May 16, voters will vote in the primary elections and select school board candidates for Pittsburgh Public School districts 2, 4, 6, and 8. If you are a registered voter, mark your calendar for these key dates: April 1: Vote School Board First! publishes responses to Candidate Questionnaire May 1: Last Day to Register to Vote! May 9: Last Day to Apply for Absentee or Mail In Ballot May 16: Last Day to Return Mail or Absentee Ballots by 8:00 PM Register to Vote The deadline to register to vote is May 1. If you are not registered, register now by completing the Voter Registration Application. If you are uncertain of your registration status, check it using the Pennsylvania Department of State Voter Registration Status Tool. Find Your Polling Place Not sure where to vote? Use the Pennsylvania Department of State Polling Place Search Tool to locate your polling place for election day. Reasons to Vote Vote School Board First! encourages voters to participate in school board elections because: A high quality public education is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. Gaps in opportunities for Pittsburgh children based on race persist. Opportunities to thrive in our current society and economy require more education. Only one in five registered voters participate in school board elections. Schools spend most of your tax dollars. Find details on the Vote School Board First! website. Learn More If have questions about your registration status, polling place, or the May 16 election, visit the Allegheny County Elections website or contact the county election office at: Phone Number (412) 350-4500 Address Allegheny County Elections Division 542 Forbes Ave., Suite 312 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2953. Hours Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
May 9, 2022 Pittsburgh Public Schools Requests Community Input on Superintendent Search The Board of Directors of Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) has requested “maximum community input” in its national search for a new superintendent. About During the community engagement phase of the process, the public is encouraged to participate through multiple opportunities to help determine the leadership traits and qualities needed to identify the next permanent superintendent. Feedback pertaining to the following questions will be discussed during the Community Engagement Activities and aggregated through the online Community Input Survey, specifically: What do you see as the greatest strengths of the Pittsburgh Public Schools? What do you see as the greatest challenges faced by the Pittsburgh Public Schools? What skill sets, qualities, and characteristics does the next Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools need to possess and demonstrate? Is there anything else you would like to share regarding the hiring of the next Superintendent? Input Survey The community is asked to complete a short Community Input Survey by midnight on Wednesday, May 18. The Community Input Survey is available in English and an additional six languages (Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, Pashto, Swahili, and Russian). Community Forums Community meetings are being held on Wednesday, May 11, and Thursday, May 12, in five geographic areas of the City of Pittsburgh and virtually to ensure maximum opportunity to participate in the process. Meeting details, schedules, and registration are available online. Learn more about the search process and participate in a community feedback session. Focus Groups Additionally, consulting firm BWP & Associates (BWP), which is leading the national search for the district, is hosting in-person and virtual Focus Group sessions with participants representing District administrators, educators, parents and guardians, students, faith-based organizations, foundations, corporate leaders, school board members, and other constituencies. Register for an in-person focus group or a virtual focus group. The insights garnered from all of these outreach efforts will build the foundation on which the Leadership Profile is developed by BWP and utilized in the selection recruiting process. The PPS School Board anticipates that the process of selecting the final candidate for the Superintendent role will be completed prior to the start of the 2022-2023 academic year.
December 8, 2021 New Pittsburgh Public Schools Board Members and President On December 7, 2021, after new school board members Jamie Piotrowski, Tracey Reed, and Eugene Walker were sworn in, Sala Udin (School Board District 3) was elected President of the Board. Devon Taliaferro (District 2) was named 1st Vice-President and Pam Harbin (District 4) was named 2nd Vice-President. One of the first major actions the board will need to take will be to approve the 2022 budget of $690.3 million. Since 2017, spending in Pittsburgh Public Schools (district and charter) has grown by $99.3 million while revenues have grown by $45.6 million. The board will also need to approve a plan to spend $100 million in American Rescue Plan dollars by the end of the year as well (which called for money for tutors, out of school partnerships, operational excellence, and more). The biggest challenge facing this board is that overall K-12 enrollment in Pittsburgh’s public schools has declined by 2,916 students since 2017 (District: -4,041; Charter: +1,125). A+ Schools will host a lunch and learn conversation on Wednesday, December 15 at noon to discuss the budget proposals. Registration for this virtual event may be completed online.
December 22, 2020 PPS Summer Dreamers Academy 2021 RFP Pittsburgh Public Schools is looking for enrichment providers to support the 2021 Summer Dreamers Academy. Proposals must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on January 15, 2021. About The Summer Dreamers Academy is a no-cost, premier summer learning camp that offers high-quality academic lessons in English Language Arts and Mathematics and engaging enrichment activities to current Pittsburgh Public School students who have completed grades K-5. Summer Dreamers Academy aims to encourage a passion for learning and exploration and to motivate their campers to persist in the face of challenges. Afternoon enrichment activities play a key part in helping their campers develop the curiosity, self-confidence, and perseverance that are at the core of these two goals. Download the RFP If you are interested in submitting a proposal, download the RFP. All proposals must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on January 15, 2021. More Information For questions, please contact Melanie Claxton at mclaxton1@pghschools.org. For more information, watch this short video and visit the Pittsburgh Public Schools website. Information provided by APOST
October 4, 2018 Resources for Addressing Suspensions & Expulsions Released On Thursday, October 4, Remake Learning held its monthly Lunch & Learn at Trying Together’s Hazelwood Early Learning Hub. Approximately 30 early childhood educators attended from the Carnegie Science Center, Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Propel Charter Schools, and other early childhood programs. There they discussed strategies to address young children’s behavior and learned more about DAP responses which may be helpful for future situations. Attendees will receive an exclusive first-look at the latest white paper from Trying Together’s policy team entitled, “End Early Childhood Suspensions and Expulsions: Developmentally Appropriate Practices and Policies For Addressing Behaviors in The Early Elementary School Grades.” A supplemental document entitled, “Addressing Suspensions and Expulsions: A Guide for Families” provides helpful tips family caregivers can employ to address their suspension and expulsion concerns. Both documents will be available to the public on Friday, October 5. If you are interested in advocating for better policies around suspensions and expulsions, sign-up for Public Policy Alerts.
June 1, 2018 Little Dreamers Academy Pittsburgh Public Schools is providing a free “summer learning camp” that academic and social-emotional support for children who are transitioning to Kindergarten this fall. The camp runs June 25 – August 1 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at several locations. Space is limited and all registration is done online. For questions contact the Early Childhood office at 412-529-4297 or 412-529-4291. Learn more and apply today.
