The decision to change Monday, November 29, from an in-person learning day to a remote asynchronous learning day was made for three reasons:

1. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be prevalent in our day-to-day lives. Like most industries, our District and school districts, locally and nationwide, are grappling with staffing shortages. In PPS, these staffing challenges are exacerbated by absences due to COVID, a limited pool of applicants, and a lack of teaching substitutes. 
2. We have received reports that we will have a limited number of bus drivers and, therefore, will be challenged with getting students to school.
3. A day with students and staff working remotely gives our custodial team an extra day to deep clean all of our schools and facilities, inclusive of Electrostatic sprayers, in light of increases in COVID-19 confirmed cases in the region.

In additon, making it an asynchronous learning day permits us to count the day towards the required 182 days of instruction and eliminates the need to extend the school year or remove vacation days from Spring Break.

Families are encouraged to contact their school social worker or counselor to access mental health services. Find a list here.

If a positive case of COVID-19 occurs at a school location, general notification will be shared with the school community (staff and families) via a robocall and/or electronic communications.  Families of any students identified as a close contact to the positive case will be personally notified by school staff and provided next steps, informed by the COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Schools, Youth, and Child Care Programs. Impacted areas of the facility will be disinfected utilizing the District’s electrostatic machine. 

Mask use, social distancing protocols, cleaning procedures, and more are detailed in the District’s Health and Safety Plan for the 2021-2022 school year. The state-required plan is available for public review on the District’s website at www.pghschools.org/healthandsafetyplan.The Board approved the plan at its July 28 Legislative Meeting.  

Regular classrooms will be set up with three feet of clearance between student chairs, where possible.  Tablet armchairs, desks, and/or tables will be set up to maintain three feet of clearance between students and teachers, and all students will face the same direction.  Where a room has fixed equipment, such as in a lab or a shop, dividers are installed if three feet of clearance cannot be accommodated.  Cafeteria and auditorium seating is marked to maintain social distancing.  Dividers have been provided in each classroom for one-on-one teacher-student interaction.

The District has developed the COVID-19 Self Screening Tool to assist families and employees for daily assessment for COVID-19, prior to arriving to school.   Anyone exhibiting symptoms should stay home.  Families and staff should notify their school principal or supervisor if they have been tested or considered presumed positive for COVID-19.  

Reusable masks have been secured for staff and students at every school, and disposable masks are available for both staff and students who forget their masks. Specialized masks to support the visual observation of the mouth are available for designated employees, and school nurses have been equipped with mask/face shields, gloves and gowns to ensure these frontline healthcare workers have what they need to support the health and wellness of school communities.  And for staff who work with some of the most vulnerable students, where medical issues make wearing a mask dangerous or unreasonable, the District will provide the PPE necessary to support students’ safely.  

As part of the District’s contact tracing process, anyone (students and staff) that may have been in close contact with a positive case will be personally notified and provided next steps.   Close contact are individuals who have been within 6 feet for longer than 15 cumulative minutes within a 24-hour period.   Per the CDC, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student where the consistent and correct use of masks, physical distancing, and other K-12 prevention strategies are in place.  

Yes, teachers, staff and students age 2 or higher will wear masks when indoors. Masks may be removed when eating and outdoors.

Due to the large variety of classroom sizes and configurations in the district, the max number of students per classroom will vary.  

Regular classrooms will be set up with three feet of clearance between student chairs, where possible.  Tablet armchairs, desks, and/or tables will be set up to maintain three feet of clearance between students and teachers, and all students will face the same direction.  Where a room has fixed equipment, such as in a lab or a shop, dividers are installed if three feet of clearance cannot be accommodated.  Cafeteria and auditorium seating is marked to maintain social distancing.  Dividers have been provided in each classroom for one-on-one teacher-student interaction.

Due to the variety of student furniture in the district, a strict distance between desks cannot be determined.  The classrooms will be set up to maintain a three-foot clearance between student seats.  

Cafeterias and gymnasiums are being maintained for food service and physical education. 

We consult with the Allegheny County Health Dept. for guidance and information.  We also consult with the School District Physician.

Pittsburgh Public Schools students and students who attend private, parochial, and charter schools are eligible for transportation based on the distance between their home and their assigned school. Transportation eligibility is measured from the nearest point where a private way or private road connects the student's residence to the nearest point where a public road touches the school grounds. Students in grades K-8 are eligible for transportation if they live more than 1.5 miles from school, and students s in grades 9-12 are eligible for transportation if they live more than 2 miles from school.

Yes. Yellow bus and Port Authority transportation will be provided for eligible students who attend private, parochial, or charter schools. All students riding yellow buses will be required to wear masks.

The District’s Transportation Department continues to work to gain efficiencies in transportation services to address the seat gap.   Strategies to reduce the seat gap include: 

1. Increasing walk zones to align with state and Board policy;
2. Expanding the use of Port Authority;
3. Implementing a three tiered bussing system;
4. Working with local carriers to promote job opportunities; and 
5. Implementing a new transportation system to optimize efficiencies and  reduce bus stops, bus ride times, and overcrowding. 
6. Supporting newly added transportation carriers as they complete onboarding of new drivers;
7. Transitioning additional middle school students to Port Authority where feasible; 

Pittsburgh Public Schools provides transportation to all PPS, Private, Parochial, and Charter school-aged children that live within the City of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh students are transported to 190 buildings (54 PPS and 136 non-PPS).  

Like school districts across the country, Pittsburgh Public Schools must transform its approach to transporting students to limit the impact of the national school bus driver shortage, which was exacerbated due to the lack of work during the pandemic. 

The District's Transportation Department continues to work to gain efficiencies in transportation services to address the seat gap. Strategies to reduce the seat gap include: 

1. Increasing walk zones to align with state and Board policy;
2. Expanding the use of Port Authority;
3. Changing school start and end times (multi-tiered scheduling), increasing the number of routes one driver can run before and after school;
4. Working with local carriers to promote job opportunities; and
5. Implementing a new transportation system to optimize efficiencies and reduce bus stops, overcrowding, and bus ride times.  

A PS-6 transfer precludes transportation.  However, if there is an existing route with space on the bus, your child's principal may request to have your child added. 

The Board is expected to vote on proposed modifications to the District's three-tiered bussing system at its July 27, Legislative Session.  

Per the District's masking protocol, during low COVID-19 Community Levels,mask use is optional.  Masks remain required during Medium and High COVID-19 Community Levels. Accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 plans will occur. 

Families are welcome to transport their children to and from school.  To assist with planning, please notify your child’s school if you will be transporting your child or complete a Let's Talk ticket.

Students will be required to follow the Port Authority's face-covering policy.  To read more about the Port Authorities face covering policy visit https://www.portauthority.org/covid-19/face-coverings/.

Schools will provide students with their ID/Connect Card on the first day of school. Students can ride the bus for free on the morning of their first day.  

Yes, the Port Authority has several tools to help families and students plan. Visit www.portauthority.org to review route information including times, locations, etc.​ In addition, it is suggested that students download one or more of the avaialble  apps to a Smartphone for route information in real time. These apps are all free and provide students with the time and location of their desired bus route. ​

The Port Authority follows guidance from federal, state and local authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. To learn more, visit

www.portauthority.org/covid-19/coronavirus-covid19-updates/.

Additional students cannot be added to yellow school buses.

As a result of the pandemic, supply chain issues are impacting school breakfast and lunch menu options. Students may notice a decrease in the variety of foods offered and have some items offered multiple times in the same week. The Food Services team is working to make menu adjustments due to last-minute deliveries and updates to the website more frequently so families can stay informed of the substitutes.

When students return to school, both breakfast and lunch will be served to students based on the individual school and type of cafeteria in the school.  

Yes.

Where students eat will depend on the school, type of cafeteria the school has, building schedule, building enrollment, and building principal's preference. 

Yes, cafeterias will be open with social distancing and multiple meal periods based on the schools' schedule and building principal's preference.

Custodial staff clean high-level touchpoints and restrooms throughout the school day. Custodial staff disinfecting in the evening do so using the CDC recommended Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) list approved disinfectant products. 

The EPA has compiled a list of disinfectant products that can be used against COVID-19, including ready-to-use sprays, concentrates, and wipes. Each product is effective against viruses that are harder to kill than viruses like the one that causes COVID-19.  The District will use a combination of the above.

The District has a framework for cleaning and disinfection practices that is based on doing the following:

• Frequent cleaning with a peroxide-based cleaner and a color-coded microfiber rag will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure during the day.
• Daily disinfection of surfaces and objects using EPA-approved disinfectants

Pittsburgh Public Schools will strictly adhere to all state and federal social distancing guidelines in all of its facilities and for District and school-sponsored events and activities.

Yes. All transportation providers will be responsible for cleaning yellow buses and vans between each route using EPA approved disinfectants.

Currently, all city schools have ventilation systems designed to bring in outdoor air that comply with applicable local codes and ordinances.  As renovations are performed, HVAC systems are replaced to meet current codes, standards and best practices. To support ventilation, supply and exhaust air supply systems are flushed for a minimum of two hours before and after building occupancy.

On February 24, 2021, the Board approved the purchase of 220 Medify HEPA Air Purifiers, along with 220 replacement filters for placement throughout the District.  The use of portable HEPA fan/filtration is among interventions recommended for consideration by the CDC to improve ventilation.

Families of students in grades 4-12, seeking a remote option, may enroll in the Pittsburgh Online Academy by speaking with their school's principal.  The District is currently examining the potential of an online option for a limited number of students in grades K-3, based on criteria to be determined.  There is no online option for PreK students.  

Pittsburgh Online Academy is 100% asynchronous. Asynchronous learning is when a student is learning and completing work independently without teacher-led instruction.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 15.

No. For the 2021-2022 school year, families who select to attend the Pittsburgh Online Academy (POA) will maintain their spot in their current magnet school/program for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

Students are expected to matriculate to the next grade level on schedule. In other words, a student who attends POA for 9th grade would be a 10th grader in their magnet program the next school year. Students may need to make up missed courses based on their magnet program. Families are encouraged to speak with their magnet school/program principal to understand the potential impacts to magnet coursework before enrolling in POA.

Families may only hold their spot within their magnet program for the 2021-2022 school year. Families seeking to attend a different magnet program for the 2022-2023 school year must apply through the magnet application process.

It is recommended that students remain at the Pittsburgh Online Academy for the entire year to complete the full year of coursework and maintain program continuity. The POA curriculum is designed to be over a whole school year. However, students may transition back to their neighborhood school or magnet school at the end of the first semester. The end of the first semester is Tuesday, February 1.  

Students attending the Pittsburgh Online Academy can continue to participate in athletic and extracurricular offerings at the magnet or neighborhood school of assignment for the 2021-2022 school year. 

The District is currently managing a bus driver shortage. At this time, transportation cannot be guaranteed for students that transition back to their neighborhood or magnet school from POA at the beginning of the second semester (Wednesday, February 2). Parents/guardians should plan to transport their children daily.

Any student that leaves the district to attend a cyber-charter school, brick and mortar charter school or private or parochial school, or withdraws from the district to homeschool, will lose their magnet status.

Families can learn more about the Pittsburgh Online Academy by visiting pghschools.org/onlineacademy or by viewing a informational presentation.  

Any family considering a full asynchronous learning model through the Pittsburgh Online Academy should consult with their child's school principal.

Synchronous learning is when the instruction is led by a teacher virtually. Asynchronous learning is when a student is learning and completing work independently without teacher-led instruction.

This is a school-by-school determination based on the school's ability to properly implement CDC guidance for pools, including safety procedures for locker room use, entering and exiting the pool, and more.

The District's Athletics Resocialization Health and Safety Plan is avaialble online.  The plan outlines how we will provide a safe space of fun, learning and camaraderie for our students.  It covers procedures for conditioning, daily safety checks for athletes, coaches and staff, and the use of masks. All middle school and elementary sports are resuming, and scheduling for physicals will occur at the school level. All athletic events will be open for spectators.  In addition, masks can be removed for outdoor sports.  For inside sports, masks must still be worn by coaches and athletes when not engaging in a sport or on the sidelines.   

Physical education must adhere to all PA and CDC guidelines (i.e., students will be spaced out in spots at least 3 feet apart, distancing will still apply during activity, sanitize/wash hands before and after class). Students will receive a similar curriculum to ensure learning. Physical education will address individualized physical activities that include but are not limited to yoga, stretching, locomotor and manipulative skills and movement (modified to in place or divided space with own equipment), fitness (body strengthening and flexibility), and other such activities. All activities are designed to ensure students' safety, allow for lifelong health and understanding, aid in being active and healthy, and address social, emotional learning/character education.

Yes. The updated Athletic Health and Saftey Plan allows for spectators. 

District staff will provide student academic, individual, or group intervention support and related services and supports as outlined in a student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Gifted Individual Education Plan (GIEP) within CDC guidelines.

Students with unique needs, as outlined in their IEPs related to a safety requirement for Covid-19, will recieve appropriate  accommodations.

Students with disabilities who have emotional support needs will continue to receive those services whether they are in the brick and mortar or a remote learning environment.

The recent Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance to prioritize the return of students for in-person learning was another positive step forward for students, families and staff. This school year, all students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks, self-screen for symptoms (https://www.pghschools.org/covid19selfscreener), stay home when unwell and maintain social distancing of three-feet or more when feasible.

We will be limiting interaction with other groups of children on playgrounds and at special events. At mealtime and nap time children will be placed three feet from other children, and visual cues will be posted in hallways to help keep children apart when standing in line.

Students age 2 or higher will wear masks as recommended by the Ameican Academy of Pediatrics.  

English Learners will continue to receive support from a certified ESL teacher. Depending on the student's English proficiency level, this may occur in a co-teaching setting with another teacher or the student may receive instruction directly from the ESL teacher.

Yes, the District will continue to use Talking Points to communicate easily via text with all families.

The Acceptable Use Policy outlines expectations regarding student internet and email use, security, network use, proper handling of equipment and fees when a device is damaged. The Acceptable Use Policy can be found at www.pghschools.org/techform.  

The online Acceptable Use Policy is available in Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Uzbek, Arabic, Nepali and Japanese. 

We appreciate how hectic life can get and understand that some families were unable to turn in their child’s device over the summer. Now that school is back in session, please make sure to return your child’s device from the 2020-2021 school year so they may receive an updated one. Devices should be turned in even if they are broken. To report a lost or stolen device, please contact your child’s school. If you need assistance returning a device, please notify your child's school.  

Student devices PreK-12 are expected to be delivered to all schools no later than Friday, October 1. All students must have a signed acceptable use policy on file before a district device can be distributed. 

The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is available for review and signing online at www.pghschools.org/techform. Please have your child’s student ID handy to complete the AUP.

When a student device is damaged, the District will cover parts and repairs for up to two (2) times per school year. After a device is damaged a third time, a $100 service fee will be charged for replacement. A school year is defined as August 1 – to July 31. If a student loses a device, the cost for replacement is $200. The District will fully cover a stolen device with a copy of a police report. Lost chargers are $47 for Dell laptops, $28 for iPads and $79 for MacBook laptops.

Cameras are enabled. 

• Here is the breakdown for grade bands:

   

  PreK – Kindergarten: iPads

  Grades 1-4: Touchscreen Windows laptop

  Grades 5-12: Windows Laptop

  CAPA students: MacBook

   

All technology support for students and families will be available at the school level.  Any family that is experiencing technological challenges with a district-issued device can receive direct support at their child’s school. 

Yes. iPads will have programs already installed on them. Additional program requests for an iPad should be coordinated with the child’s school.  

PSCC meetings will continue on a monthly basis either in person or in a virtual setting, depending on current guidelines from the State, Allegheny Health Department and local information.

Access to before and aftercare at school will be dependent on the available space within each building, as well as the ability of various care providers to safely serve students.

Yes, we will prioritize approved District OST partner access to PPS buildings to safely serve students in person and to continue to provide live programming while following all health and safety regulations and best practices.

Staff who are not enrolled in health coverage through the District, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) provides for free COVID-19 testing for individuals without insurance.