'Violence interrupters' to be deployed to Pittsburgh pools this summer, per youth safety leaders

WESA 6/15 11:32P Jillian Forstadt

Outreach workers, community "violence interrupters" and public safety officials will be on hand at every city pool this summer, according to City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence coordinator Ian Reynolds.

Pittsburgh Public kicks off period of transition and mourning for families at closing schools

WESA 6/14 11:33P Jillian Forstadt

For many PPS families and staff, the school board’s decision to close schools last month has set off a period of grief and transition.

Pa. cyber charter schools say bill to have students on camera should also apply to public schools

WESA 6/11 8:35A Jillian Forstadt

Cyber charter school leaders say the new measure should be equally applied to traditional public schools, arguing that abuse and harm aren’t unique to students enrolled in virtual classes.

House bill would require Pa. cyber charter students to be on camera during live instruction

WESA 6/10 6:04A Jillian Forstadt

Members of the House Education Committee voted to advance legislation that would require cyber students to be on camera at all times during live virtual instruction.

State House panel approves bill to provide paid leave for teachers injured by students or parents

WESA 6/8 11:30P Peter Hall | Pennsylvania Capita

Some public school teachers assaulted or injured at work would be eligible for up to a year of paid leave under legislation now up for consideration in the state House.

New survey finds Allegheny County is a bright spot for summer learning opportunities

WESA 6/3 12:11A Jillian Forstadt

Two in five Allegheny County kids whose parents want to enroll them in summer programs are missing out, according to new data from the national Afterschool Alliance.

While more Pennsylvania students are completing teacher prep programs, educator shortages persist

WESA 5/31 11:32P Jillian Forstadt

The number of students completing teacher preparation programs in Pennsylvania has modestly increased since 2019, but those gains aren’t spread equally across the state.

PPS Summer B.O.O.S.T. didn’t improve test scores. Experts say summer learning matters anyway.

WESA 5/25 11:31P Jillian Forstadt

An independent evaluation of the program found that, compared to students who did not attend B.O.O.S.T. at all, there was no significant impact on reading or math scores.

With teens' input, Pa. AG shares social media recommendations for families and lawmakers

WESA 5/21 11:34P Glynis Board

The state Attorney General's office held a series of conversations with teens over the course of the school year to get insight into their social media use.

Changes to state funding hits Pittsburgh arts and education programs

WESA 5/14 11:31P Bill O'Driscoll

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts' rebrand as Pennsylvania Creative Industries includes funding changes that have upset some arts advocates.

City of Pittsburgh commits to expanding Learn and Earn youth employment to year-round

WESA 5/13 11:32P Jillian Forstadt

Pittsburgh city leaders are teaming up with the workforce development nonprofit Partner4Work to expand their summertime Learn and Earn program into the school year.

Reading, math scores are sliding nationwide. These Pa. school districts are bucking the trend

WESA 5/12 11:30P Jillian Forstadt

Researchers warn that the U.S. is experiencing a reading recession, but they also note that some schools — including several in Western Pennsylvania — are bucking that trend.

First Amendment rights at center of clash between Pa. schools and students over ICE walkouts

WESA 5/11 11:31P Amanda Fries | Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania students have a First Amendment right to protest ICE, but schools can discipline walkouts as they would any unexcused absence and not more harshly due to the political message.

Pittsburgh teens weigh in on their ouster from Market Square, call for more ‘third spaces’ Downtown

WESA 5/10 11:32P Jillian Forstadt

While city officials have indicated that students cannot hang around the square unless they are buying and eating food, they have not offered any alternatives for kids downtown.

Pine-Richland School Board revises controversial library book policy

WESA 5/5 9:15A Glynis Board

Changes reverse measures passed last year that expanded the Pine-Richland School Board's role in library book selection. The board approved the revision by a 5-4 vote.