• Reopening Our Schools

    Reopening Our Schools
    District staff has been hard at work to ensure the safe return of students. Guided by the expertise and recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Pennsylvania Department of Health,  Allegheny Health Department and District health officials, PPS has put in place multiple safeguards to support the safe reopening of schools. 

    On January 27, 2021, the Board of Directors voted to pass a revised resolution regarding the District’s plan of instruction. The approved resolution maintains the Remote Instruction Plan currently in effect until the beginning of the fourth quarter, April 6, 2021, requires the surveying of families and the development of new cohorts based on student need.

    On February 22, 2021 the District announced new support categories, based on students’ needs and a new survey to capture parent comfort levels and desire for in-person hybrid learning. The survey will be adminstered through schools and begin first with families of students with the highest need and identified for return April 6. 

    New Student-Support Categories

    Per the Board’s resolution, Pittsburgh Public Schools students will now be placed in new student-support categories based on multiple data points, including attendance, performance data in math and English Language Arts and other factors including Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Strengths, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan or English language services.   The criteria was established by the District to equitably identify students who are struggling most. Support categories are defined as follows:

    Support Category 4: Student is not demonstrating progress and/or is in Kindergarten or PreK
    Return Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 (4,786 students)

    Support Category 3: Student demonstrating some progress in eLearning.
    Return Date: Monday, April 26, 2021 (5,212 students)

    Support Category 2: Student demonstrating progress in eLearning.
    Return Date:  Monday, May 3, 2021 (7,136 students)

    Support Category 1: Student demonstrating positive progress in eLearning.
    Return Date: Monday, May 3, 2021 (3,085 students)      

    All students will return to school on an AA/BB schedule.  Students on the AA schedule will attend school on Monday and Tuesday (AA).  Students on the BB schedule will attend school on Thursday and Friday.  Students at Pittsburgh Pioneer and Pittsburgh Conroy will attend four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday). Schools will work with families to identify which days of the week their child will return for in-person hybrid learning. School buildings will be closed each Wednesday for further disinfecting of high-touch areas.  


  • Reopening Our Schools: Featured Videos

    View our most recent videos below. More videos can also be found on the PPS Vimeo page.