Pittsburgh Public Schools nixes proposal to delay school start time on Wednesdays

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Wayne Walters on Wednesday said the district will not move ahead with a proposal to start school an hour later every Wednesday during the next academic year.

The district had previously proposed an hour delay each Wednesday to allow more time for staff professional development.

Because of “the concerns and challenges raised by stakeholders about proposed changes to the 2023-2024 school year calendar,” school officials said they have “paused all modifications” to the calendar.

Next school year’s calendar will mirror the structure of this year’s calendar, district officials said.

In addition to halting the delay proposal, school officials said they will not implement a second-semester parent-teacher conference half-day. The calendar will maintain one week of spring vacation and eight professional development half-days, in line with this year’s school schedule.

“In partnership and communication with stakeholders, we plan to explore opportunities for future continuous staff professional learning and other pertinent opportunities within the 2024-2025 school year calendar,” Walters said in a letter to students, staff and families.

Walters said the district, like many throughout the nation, is “challenged to fully meet the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of students.” The covid-19 pandemic, he said, brought to light the need for “added layers of learning to improve student outcomes and experiences.”

“While I carefully listened to and heard your concerns and challenges, we must understand that change is necessary to positively elevate our students’ outcomes and experiences,” Walters wrote in his letter. “If change is to happen for our students, we must invest in those who deliver education to our students.”

The superintendent said professional learning is a “core value and urgent need” for Pittsburgh Public Schools.

“We must be innovative within our defined constructs to increase opportunities for teacher, principal and school-based staff collaboration and development,” he wrote.

The district is preparing to launch a strategic planning process that will engage stakeholders and develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan, Walters said. Among the topics that will be included in that initiative are “consistent job-embedded professional learning for staff and school start times,” Walters said.