Staff shortages have led the Pittsburgh Public Schools to cut roughly 1,000 students from its Summer BOOST program, a program designed to mitigate covid-19 related learning loss.
Some 2,500 students from kindergarten through 11th grade had signed up for the program. The district on Thursday said 1,500 will now participate but only after additional last minute staff hires over the past week.
Students were prioritized for the program based on need, particularly those underperforming in English and math.
“We are extremely grateful to those teachers and staff who stepped up to take on summer work after a long and unprecedented school year,” said Superintendent Anthony Hamlet. “While we are extremely saddened and disappointed that any student will be turned away, it is because of the teacher and staff’s commitment we will be able to serve our students most at risk of losing ground ahead of the next school year.”
The start of the program has been delayed for one week and will now begin on June 28.
About 50 students scheduled to attend the Summer Boost program at the Pittsburgh Weil facility in the Hill District will now participate in the program at Pittsburgh King in Allegheny Center.
The district also said students set to receive both Covid Compensatory Services (CCS) and Extended School Year (ESY) at Pittsburgh Conroy will now only receive ESY starting on July 12.
