Education category, Page 84
Kiski Area improves performance, diversity in Advanced Placement courses
The number of Kiski Area High School students taking Advanced Placement tests is nearly nine times higher than it was three years ago, and students are passing four times as many tests, according to data the district shared this week. The high school also offers AP courses to far more...
White teacher sues Woodland Hills alleging racial discrimination
A Woodland Hills School District teacher who holds advanced degrees in administration and educational leadership is suing the district and alleging he wasn’t hired as an assistant principal because of his race. Charles Kost, of McDonald has been a teacher at Woodland Hills for 15 years. He has a master’s...
Duquesne University’s ‘puppy dog eyes’ study among most influential of 2019
A research paper that studied how “puppy dog eyes” evolved to help dogs communicate with humans was ranked as one of the top 100 most influential studies of 2019. The paper, co-authored by Anne Burrows, a biological anthropologist in Duquesne University’s Department of Physical Therapy, ranked 27th in the Altmetric...
Reparations mark new front for U.S. colleges tied to slavery
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The promise of reparations to atone for historical ties to slavery has opened new territory in a reckoning at U.S. colleges, which until now have responded with monuments, building name changes and public apologies. Georgetown University and two theological seminaries have announced funding commitments to benefit descendants...
Democratic presidential hopefuls heading to Pittsburgh for education forum
Pittsburgh will play host Saturday to a nationally televised event spotlighting where eight Democratic presidential candidates stand on a variety of hot-button education issues. National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García, who was an elementary school teacher, said she and fellow educators couldn’t be more excited about the chance to...
4 arrested in Propel Schools check forgery case; warrant out for 5th suspect
Police arrested four people in connection with a scheme to steal nearly $23,000 from Propel Schools by forging checks in the Western Pennsylvania charter school operator’s name, officials said Monday. The Propel Schools Foundation filed a report with police on Nov. 12 after discovering nearly two dozen fraudulent checks in...
North Hills teacher named 2020 Educator of the Year
Joe Welch, a North Hills Middle School teacher, was named Pennsylvania’s 2020 Educator of the Year. Welch, who teaches American History at North Hills Middle School, was one of 12 Teacher of the Year finalists. Nominations for the Teacher of the Year were submitted by students, parents, peers, and members...
Carlynton taps North Allegheny principal as new superintendent
North Allegheny Senior High School principal John Kreider is the new superintendent for the Carlynton School District. School directors unanimously approved Kreider to be the district’s next leader at the board meeting Tuesday. Kreider will begin his duties on or before Feb. 7. He will remain at North Allegheny to...
Fred Rogers Productions CEO to speak at Saint Vincent College commencement
Paul Siefken, president and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions, will deliver the address for the December commencement at Saint Vincent College in Unity, the college announced. The 15th annual December commencement will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Robert S. Carey Student Center. Siefken joined Fred Rogers...
Budget hearing for Pittsburgh schools addresses mental health programs, state oversightVideo
Many residents who came to a public hearing Monday on the 2020 Pittsburgh Public Schools budget didn’t focus on the spending plan that includes a 2.3% rise in property taxes collected by the district, the first tax increase in five years. Instead, the bigger concern was the district’s spending on...
Student in custody after shooting at Milwaukee-area school
MILWAUKEE — A student is in custody after exchanging gunfire with a school resource officer Monday morning at a suburban Milwaukee high school, the school district said. Police in Waukesha tweeted about 11 a.m. that officers were responding to a “critical incident” at Waukesha South High School. Terry Schuster, the...
Dictionary.com chooses ‘existential’ as word of the year
NEW YORK — Climate change, gun violence, the very nature of democracy and an angsty little movie star called Forky helped propel “existential” to Dictionary.com’s word of the year. The choice reflects months of high-stakes threats and crises, real and pondered, across the news, the world and throughout 2019. “In...
Franklin Regional, Butler, Mt. Lebanon receive grants to help needy families
Three school districts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including Franklin Regional in Westmoreland County, each will receive $2,500 to help local families with needs like clothing, medical and dental care, eyeglasses and prescriptions along with food, shelter and related supplies. The American Association of School Administrators, or AASA, announced the Murrysville school...
Colleges struggle with soaring student demand for counseling
More college students are turning to their schools for help with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, and many must wait weeks for treatment or find help elsewhere as campus clinics struggle to meet demand, an Associated Press review of more than three dozen public universities found. On some...
Westmoreland ‘Science Scholars’ will compete for $12,000 in Pitt-Greensburg scholarships
Students from five Westmoreland County schools will compete Monday for $12,000 in scholarship money to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg at the college’s Science Scholar Showdown. The four-member teams will put their scientific knowledge and teamwork to the test as they participate in three rounds of competition. Students...
Penn-Trafford tops in Westmoreland County on state assessment tests
Penn-Trafford was ranked in the top 2% of the state’s 605 schools districts, based on the results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and the Keystone Exams, the school district said. The Westmoreland County school district ranked 11th out of 605 statewide, according to scores released in October and...
Auditor general accuses Pittsburgh schools of ‘runaway travel costs’ amid budget woes, proposed tax hike
Superintendent Anthony Hamlet and other top Pittsburgh Public Schools administrators have spent more than $450,000 this year on trips to Las Vegas, Nashville and Los Angeles and other travel-related expenses “without clearly demonstrating any benefit for students,” the state’s top fiscal watchdog said Wednesday. In a scathing report, Pennsylvania Auditor...
Riverview students awarded during Model UN event at Princeton
Four members of Riverview Senior High School’s United Nations team received awards for performances during a recent conference at Princeton University. Lauren Hornsby, Francesca Lio, Jack Harden and Julia Ciorra all played roles as delegates from U.N. committees during the conference, held Nov. 14-17. Hornsby, a junior, finished in second...
Penn State ranks close to worst in affordability for low-income students
Penn State ranks close to worst in affordability for low-income students among top public universities, according to a new report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Flagship universities like Penn State’s University Park campus are known around the country for having large research budgets and many resources for both...
American Legion oratorical, essay contests open to high school students
Westmoreland County high school students looking for college scholarships might want to sharpen their public speaking and essay skills for the 2020 Pennsylvania American Legion oratorical and essay contests. The contests are open to all county students in grades 9-12, including home school and charter and private school pupils. Applications...
U.S. draws fewer new foreign students for 3rd straight year
The number of foreign students coming to U.S. colleges and universities continued to fall last year, according to a new report, but the Trump administration says the drop should be blamed on high tuition costs and not students’ concerns over the nation’s political atmosphere. An annual report from the Institute...
Alabama parents, students outraged after student uncovers racist chat group among teachers
Students and parents in a small Alabama town want several teachers to be held accountable after a student at their school leaked a “racist” chat group that targeted children with racial slurs, demeaning jokes and implications that students are dumb. The group chat, named “Bad A B’s,” started at a...
Penn State soon to unveil national report on Greek life; 55 colleges included
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Pennsylvania State University said it will soon release the first national score card on fraternities and sororities, highlighting the good, such as public service hours and the bad, such as hazing and sexual misconduct violations. But many schools will be absent from the list. The university...
Plum School District officials dedicate new high school vestibule, show other security upgradesVideo
Plum School District officials believe their new security vestibule will become the safety standard at other schools. “Sometimes they say the leading edge is the bleeding edge, but not in this case,” Superintendent Brendan Hyland said. “We’re leading, and I think you’re going to be very proud of the amount...
Mayor Peduto calls for state oversight of Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday called for state takeover of Pittsburgh Public School District finances, saying the district should be able to balance its annual budget within current revenue levels. The mayor was responding to a question about the district’s proposed 2.3% tax increase that Superintendent Anthony Hamlet has...
