Proposal would create formal partnership between Pittsburgh, school district

Legislation introduced to Pittsburgh City Council would form an official partnership between the city and Pittsburgh Public Schools in an effort to address the learning gap resulting from the covid-19 pandemic and the pre-existing racial achievement gap in the city’s schools.

The legislation explains that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in October 2020 said that, “while there have been evidence that the PPS is attempting to close the achievement gap between its African American and white children, the statistics do not support a conclusion that the standards of substantial progress have been satisfied.”

This disparity has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which caused many students to essentially lose two years of in-person education, said Councilman Ricky Burgess. He introduced the measure.

The measure cites statistics showing that Black communities were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Though Black residents make up about 13% of the country’s population, the legislation said, they represent 33% of covid-19 hospitalizations and 34% of virus-related deaths. The legislation also pointed out that Black families are facing more severe economic impacts from the pandemic, as well as higher levels of stress regarding the virus and its impacts.

“Pre-existing disparities in access to adequate internet connections and computer technology are being exacerbated by a shift to remote learning during the pandemic that place Black children at a further disadvantage,” Burgess wrote in the legislation.

The bill also cited a survey that showed Black parents struggled to find information about remote learning resources during the pandemic and were less likely to be able to work from home, where they could help their children during remote schooling.

“It will take no less than a citywide coordinated, dedicated and sustained multi-year effort to address the emotional trauma and learning gap caused by the pandemic and the pre-existing racial achievement gap,” the legislation reads.

If approved, the measure would establish the Pittsburgh City-School District Partnership in an attempt to “create opportunity-rich places where young people can be successful in and out of school.”

Goals for the partnership would include increasing positive family outcomes, including student achievement, bolstering school and community safety and creating healthier communities for families and students to thrive.

The members of the partnership would include the mayor, the president of City Council, up to three additional council members, the city controller, the superintendent, the president of the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education and up to three additional board members.

The legislation proposes that their initial agenda should focus on school safety, emergency child care, summer and after-school programs, universal childcare and education and transportation.

A Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment on the proposal.

The measure was unanimously recommended in a preliminary vote Wednesday. Councilmen R. Daniel Lavelle and Anthony Coghill were not present for the vote.

“These are our kids. These are all of our kids,” Burgess said.

Burgess said he hoped the partnership would allow city and school officials to collaborate on supplemental education opportunities, including after school and summer programs.

“One of my major concerns is not school time — it’s the out of school events I’m most concerned about,” he said. “Once they leave school, especially in some of our more challenging neighborhoods, there’s not a coordination of what happens with them from 3 until 7 the next day.”

Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said parents should also be involved in these efforts, and Councilman Bruce Kraus suggested collaborating also with Carnegie Library.

“The desire is not at all to tell anybody what to do, but rather to create a place where we can coordinate all the resources we both have,” Burgess said.