Pittsburgh’s Black students, especially those in special education, are getting suspended more often than their classmates, despite efforts to level discipline. Suspension rates dropped during COVID, but then returned to pre-pandemic levels. Black students make up just over half of Pittsburgh Public Schools [PPS] enrollment but receive 10 times more suspensions than white students. More than 18,000 suspensions were handed out in the past six years, with Black students in special ed seeing the sharpest increases.

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Pittsburgh school suspensions returned to pre-pandemic levels, as Black students with IEPs see a big jump in discipline

The school district has sought to shift away from out-of-school suspension and toward restorative practices, but schools continue to use a disciplinary measure that one principal said serves “only to give the adults a break.”

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures welcomes R.F. Kuang on Monday, April 28, for our next Ten Evenings lecture of the season at Carnegie Music Hall! Kuang will present a lecture on her incisive, satirical novel “Yellowface.” 

Tickets are available and can be purchased at pittsburghlectures.org or by phone at (412) 622-8866 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

NOT TO MISS

Join us for an unforgettable night with 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize winner Andrea Vidaurre at Women for a Healthy Environment’s annual fundraiser on May 1 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Get your tickets today!

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• Racial, ethnic and gender preferences have existed in government contracting for about 50 years and can support minority- and women-owned businesses. Pittsburgh is pursuing a disparity study to defend its practices despite Trump's challenges to racial equity.
• PublicSource interviewed eight out of nine candidates running for PPS school board. Increased transparency and improved resources for teachers and students are top of mind. Most candidates agree that some school closings are inevitable

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Is Pittsburgh really insulated from climate change? Experts say not so fast

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