Will students be back in the classroom this fall? Pittsburgh school leader doesn’t think so

PITTSBURGH — The top question for Pittsburgh Public Schools during a virtual town hall: what will school look like this fall?

The answer isn’t 100% clear.

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Cecil Price, a senior at the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies, is on track to graduate. He is also the student body president and a mentor to younger students.

“I’m kind of scared about what their progress is going to look like moving forward,” he said.

Continued online learning is what the future could look like for Pittsburgh Public Schools.

“We truly believe that we will be in this space of online learning in the fall,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet.

Questions came pouring in from the community for Hamlet during the virtual town hall with the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition the PPS school board chair.

Hamlet said getting resources to students is key. He said there are a dozen high school students who still need laptops, in addition to students in other grades.

According to Hamlet, the district will be ready for full online learning this fall, but a full school plan for this fall isn't absolutely clear.

“We really don’t know. There’s a level of uncertainty that we have no idea what guidelines will be out there in the fall,” said Hamlet.

As for the current school year, all students within the district will pass the fourth quarter. Seniors will have access to credit recovery this summer if they don’t have enough credits to graduate.

Homework packages are being offered for those who don’t have laptops.

Right now, the district is forming a committee to see how long-term online planning will look. Next week, laptops will begin to go out to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.

The district is planning to get iPads to the younger students.

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