Education News

Sarah Pine’s college experience at the University of Pittsburgh was typical, until it wasn’t. From Savannah, Ga., Pine came to Oakland in fall 2022 to pursue writing, seeking a different atmosphere than the south. “I went in with all these positive thoughts and ideas, ready to conquer the college experience,”...

A trio of Penn State New Kensington’s most popular academic programs has found new homes as the university plans to close the Upper Burrell campus at the end of the Spring 2027 semester. Penn State announced this week that three programs — biomedical engineering technology, electro-mechanical engineering technology and radiological...

Student enrollment at Pittsburgh Public Schools this fall declined 2% over last fall, and 23 of the district’s schools enroll less than 250 students, according to data released this week by the school district. PPS enrolled 17,937 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade this fall; a decline of 375 students...

Faculty at Pennsylvania State University soon could be part of a union. Members of the Penn State Faculty Alliance on Tuesday said they turned in thousands of union authorization cards to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board’s offices in Harrisburg. The alliance petitioned to represent all faculty, including at University Park,...

The projected opening of a new Quaker Valley High School has been pushed back for the second time this year while school district officials continue to seek federal and state permits related to its construction. Administrators initially had hoped to open the doors of the proposed 167,000-square-foot facility in June...

Duquesne University officials say a new, $68 million health sciences facility will locate clinical services, consolidate programs and strengthen the college’s role in regional health care. Duquesne announced Tuesday that it plans to build a new, 80,000-square-foot health sciences facility at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Magee Street that...

The new vice president for strategic enrollment management at Pennsylvania Western University believes strong admissions recruitment and providing a solid student experience can turn the tide of declining enrollment there. Darren Wagner was named to the post at PennWest — which includes campuses at Clarion, California and Edinboro — Dec....

Pittsburgh Public Schools officials plan to move into the new year with a more than $6 million projected budget deficit despite a proposed 4% tax hike. In a budget hearing Monday night, multiple district residents implored school board members and administrators to find creative ways of raising revenue beyond the...

During Allegheny Valley School District’s two-month search for a consistent high school biology teacher, Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said other teachers, outside substitutes and even school principals stepped in to keep the science class going. Eventually, the district found a long-term substitute with an emergency biology certification to fill the role...

The University of Pittsburgh will borrow funds through a federal tax credit program to partially fund construction of BioForge, a $250 million cell and gene therapy manufacturing facility in Hazelwood Green. Pitt’s Finance and Budget Committee on Friday unanimously approved entering into the New Markets Tax Credit program for BioForge....

Robert Morris University will pay just under $1 million as part of a proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by a student who alleged the Moon Township college breached its contract when it transitioned to online instruction during the covid-19 pandemic. Allegheny County Judge Alan Hertzberg this fall preliminarily approved...

Kati R. Csoman came from an immigrant Hungarian family. Her father was a steelworker in Beaver County, and there wasn’t a lot of money for college. When her mentor, University of Pittsburgh professor Robert P. Donnorummo, suggested she apply for a scholarship to study abroad in her native Hungary, she...

Artificial intelligence will not replace teachers, according to Point Park University School of Education Dean Virginia Chambers. But, it is imperative for future educators to know how to use AI in the classroom, and Point Park is launching two new programs to advance that plan. Point Park will offer students...

Graduates of a new collaborative effort between Slippery Rock University and the Community College of Beaver County will not only have earned their wings, but also have a bachelor’s degree in hand. In the co-enrollment partnership, launched next semester, students simultaneously enroll at Slippery Rock and CCBC and complete flight...

The Pittsburgh School Board elected new officers for the 2026 fiscal year. The board members were sworn in on Monday at the district’s Board Organization Meeting. New to the board of directors are Tawana Cook Purnell (District 1), Eva Diodati (District 7) and Erikka Grayson (District 3). Purnell grew up...

A new program at Point Park University aims to better prepare its performing arts students with transferable skills while also making its conservatory more elite. The Downtown Pittsburgh university will launch an accelerated bachelor of fine arts degree in performance and creative industries next fall, said Keisha Lalama, interim dean...

Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the U.S. government in a deal with the Trump administration to end a series of investigations and restore hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding. President Donald Trump’s administration had cut off $790 million in grants in a standoff...

Giving thanks and giving back to those in need were the themes of a student-led Thanksgiving parade at A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless. It also was a special treat for the preschoolers of Beattie’s Kiddie Tech program, who got to march in the parade around the school. While the...

Slippery Rock University is expanding its “Rock Life” program, a four-year, non-degree program for students with intellectual disabilities. The federal government awarded Slippery Rock $300,000 over the next five years for the program. The money will be used to hire more staff and grow vocational and other campus school and...

Thirteen union employees at Pennsylvania Western University’s California and Clarion campuses were furloughed last week, a university spokeswoman confirmed. “Thirteen AFSCME employees were furloughed,” said Wendy Mackall, a spokeswoman for PennWest. “PennWest is proud to support 1,571 employees across our campuses and to serve as a significant economic driver for...

A reconfiguration plan that called to shutter nine Pittsburgh Public School buildings was defeated by a 6-3 vote Tuesday night. The “Future-Ready” plan called for the closure of the Student Achievement Center (Baxter School); Friendship; Schiller, Manchester; Fulton; McKelvy (Miller PreK-5); Woolslair; Spring Hill and Morrow. Grade structures would have...

Pennsylvania Western University has reshaped its programming for students who enter college without a major — commonly known as “undeclared” or “undecided” students. The university’s new “exploratory studies” program is tailored to give those student intentional, individual attention. “As career coaches, it’s sad to have a conversation with a junior...

Monessen City School Superintendent Robert Motte is faced with a dilemma. Motte admits the district’s state test scores could use some improvement. On the 2024 Keystone Exams, 3% of the district’s students achieved a proficient or higher score in algebra 1. Students hitting that proficient or higher mark in biology...

When it comes to education spending, more isn’t always better. At least that’s what the numbers — standardized test scores and per-student spending — suggest about Southwestern Pennsylvania’s school districts. School districts that spend the most per student do not always have the highest test scores, according to data from...

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts will each receive a slice of $565 million that lawmakers put in this...