Pittsburgh Steelers working with local schools to enrich learning, improve attendance

WESA 9/3 11:30P Glynis Board

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expanding partnerships with local schools.

Pa. may ban cellphones in schools. Some educators say they’re already seeing results

WESA 8/30 11:30P Kenny Cooper | WHYY

The “bell-to-bell” bans face skepticism from students and parents. After going phone-free, early adopters say the difference is striking.

Some Pa. schools are cutting off charter students’ access to yellow buses after court ruling

WESA 8/27 8:00A Jaxon White | Spotlight PA

Charters say it’s unfair to cut off their students’ access to school buses. Public districts say it’s about their budgets.

Childcare center at Pittsburgh International Airport marks 3 years, opens to the public

WESA 8/20 11:31P Jenna Post

"I don't think there's ever a time that a big organization or an airport wouldn't need something like this," said Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis who created a lot of the momentum behind the PIT's childcare endeavor.

Pittsburgh kids learn tricks and ‘tenacity’ at skateboarding camp

WESA 8/20 11:30P Julia Maruca

At Switch and Signal Skatepark, just outside of Pittsburgh in Swissvale, kids aged five to 13 get the hang of the basics of skating, and practice their tricks alongside teachers and other kids.

Audubon Society of Western Pa. lands $240k to expand community conservation education efforts

WESA 8/20 11:30P Glynis Board

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s goal is to turn bird-curiosity around Pittsburgh into bird-love and ultimately, conservation action. A new grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation will enrich those efforts for the next 18 months.

How the costly digital age is leaving behind Pa.’s rural, underfunded schools

WESA 8/18 11:30P Kenny Cooper | WHYY

Students in remote school districts like Otto-Eldred are using failing, outdated technology. In some cases, it's costing them their futures.

How another city is responding to teen takeovers — and what Pittsburgh can learn

WESA 8/9 11:35P Jenna Post

This summer in Pittsburgh has seen a clash between so-called “teen takeovers” — large, seemingly spontaneous, unmoderated gatherings of young people — and city officials and businesses trying to tamp them down.

See how much money your Pa. school district will receive to close funding gaps

WESA 8/9 1:00A Jaxon White | Spotlight PA

Each school district got at least $50,000 of the $565 million in new spending.

Amid soaring measles cases, Pa. parents can now track vaccine rates at their child’s school

WESA 8/4 11:33P Kiley Koscinski

Pennsylvania parents can now easily track vaccination rates at their kids’ schools thanks to a new resource from the state health department. A new online tool provides annual vaccination rate data for individual schools, a closer look than the...

As PPS works to expand its gifted programs, students say encouragement and preparation are key

WESA 7/27 11:33P Jillian Forstadt

Between 2021 and 2024, only about 12% of Black high schoolers at PPS completed at least one AP course. That’s compared to more than 40% of white students in the district.

PPS says it wants to move gifted programs into all schools. How one teacher’s paving the way.

WESA 7/26 11:33P Jillian Forstadt

PPS leaders say expanding gifted offerings will require them to close the beloved Gifted Center, located in the West End, and move these enrichment opportunities into neighborhood schools.

Pittsburgh will use youth 'violence interrupters' as mediators. What does that mean?

WESA 6/25 12:02A Jeremy Scott

Initiatives that Pittsburgh Public Schools has been undertaking to curb school violence seem to be paying off. Officials have reported at 23% reduction in disciplinary events this past school year from the 2023-2024 school year, and this summer...

Democrats want to make Pa.’s $680 million school choice program more accountable

WESA 6/23 11:33P Jillian Forstadt

The state tax credit is mirrored by President Donald Trump’s new federal education tax credit, which will offer similar tax relief to individuals donating to eligible school scholarship organizations.

Pittsburgh Public Schools poised to adopt new purchasing policies after city controller’s urging

WESA 6/16 11:31P Jillian Forstadt

The district is considering policy changes that would require administrators to solicit multiple bids when contracting for professional services, materials and supplies.