Pittsburgh Public Schools News

In addition to the District’s public hearings on September 19, October 24 and November 21, Superintendent Linda Lane will be hosting the following community forums from 6:30-8:00 pm:

• Tuesday, Sept 13 – Southwest (Greenway – conference center)
• Thursday, Sept 15 – North (Pittsburgh King gymnasium)
• Thursday, Sept 22 – East (Reizenstein cafetorium)

We are looking forward to having you understand the proposed plan and to hear your thoughts. For more information on the proposed District Realignment Plan, please visit: http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/CitySchoolsFiscalChallenges

‘Internet Essentials’ to Provide Families with Children Eligible for a Free Lunch under the National School Lunch Program with Low-Cost Internet Service, Affordable Computers and Digital Literacy Training

Congressman Mike Doyle, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Comcast Corporation Executive Vice President David L. Cohen today launched Internet Essentials, an ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption experiment. It’s the first program to address three of the primary barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified – 1) a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful; 2) the cost of a home computer; and 3) the cost of Internet service. Available to low-income families in Pittsburgh with children who are eligible to receive free lunches under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the goal of Internet Essentials is to help close the digital divide and ensure more Americans benefit from all the Internet has to offer.
» Comcast initiative combats digital divide – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
» Comcast connects digital divide… To provide computers, Internet to low-income students – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (more…)

Agenda Review: Download Agenda

Preliminary results on the 2011 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) show more District students are on track to Promise-Readiness as gains in reading and mathematics proficiency increased on 11 of 14 tests. The number of students performing at the advanced level increased on 10 of 14 tests, while the number of students performing below basic decreased on 13 of 14 PSSA tests. Superintendent Linda S. Lane shared the District’s 2011 student achievement results with District principals, staff and community members earlier this morning at the Pittsburgh Professional Development Center located in the Greenway facility.

» Visit 2011 Student Achievement Website
» 2011 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) District Presentation
» 2011 PSSA Results Press Release (more…)

Expect to Succeed

On August 20, 2011, in collaboration with local churches, businesses, Armed Services and local Universities, the Hill District Education Council (HDEC) will host its 1st annual “Expect to Succeed” back to school celebration. (more…)

Resolute in the goal of guiding the District on the path to financial health, Superintendent Linda S. Lane presented a District Realignment Plan that begins to reduce the burden of the District’s underutilized classrooms. The plan, shared at a press conference this afternoon, recommends the creation of one new school, while closing seven schools and seven facilities at the end of the 2011-12 school year.  The earliest the Board can vote on the District’s Realignment Plan is at its November 22, Legislative Meeting.
Related Materials

• Video – August 4, 2011 Press Conference
• District Announces Realignment Plan – August 4, 2011
• Building a Sustainable District - August 4, 2011
• Realignment Plan, August 4, 2011
• Realignment Rubric Scores by School, August 4, 2011

School districts throughout Allegheny County partner to address teacher effectiveness, which is essential to student achievement. This event will be a model for best practices in the region.

Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) will partner to provide the second annual Regional Best Practices Summer Institute on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Baldwin High School, 4653 Clairton Blvd. Through their partnership, the AIU and Pittsburgh Public Schools will focus on implementing effective change efficiently to ensure that the Allegheny County region is known for effective teaching. (more…)

Join us Saturday, August 13, from Noon – 3:00pm in front of The Academy at Westinghouse on Murtland St. for Free Food, Fun, Games, and Give-Aways!
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