Pittsburgh Public Schools will learn remote during 2026 NFL Draft

Pittsburgh Public Schools issued a release Tuesday, saying staff and families have been notified of important schedule changes as the NFL Draft inches closer in Western Pennsylvania. The district said schools will transition to remote asynchronous teaching and learning from April 22–24, 2026. The district says the transition to remote learning comes ahead of “the significant increase in visitors expected across the region during the 2026 NFL Draft.””We know it’s not ideal, but it is a reality of a city hosting a big event where we’re expecting about 500,000-700,000 visitors into our city, and it will completely create sort of exciting time, but also some challenging times when we think about accessibility, transportation, and safety,” Superintendent Wayne Walters said Wednesday.Each student will have a daily Homeroom section in Schoology where they should log in and respond to the discussion prompt between 10:00 a.m. and noon on the impacted days, the release said. Logging in during the designated time window will ensure students are marked present for the day and can access their assignments and instructions from their teachers. Parents like Jazlynn Worthy expressed support for the district’s decision to switch to remote learning, noting the potential confusion and challenges of navigating public transportation with the influx of visitors. “I’m actually happy that the district decided to do remote learning,” Worthy said.Parent Valerie Webb Allman, on the other hand, voiced concerns about the offline learning approach.”One day here and there for a snow day is one thing, but three days in a row, that’s a big gap when we don’t have a whole lot of time, and we’re not going to be making up any of that time,” Allman said. Walters explained that allowing students to complete assignments at their own pace was intended to give them the opportunity to enjoy the draft, which he described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He acknowledged the challenges this decision might bring but emphasized that the early announcement was made to prepare families for the transition.”We were the first to communicate publicly, but we anticipate many other schools who are in the area will be doing similar things,” Walters said.While Pittsburgh Public Schools have announced their plans, other city schools like The Ellis School and Winchester Thurston have indicated they plan to continue with their regular schedules during the draft. Further updates from other schools in Allegheny County are expected. The NFL Draft, PPS said, will also coincide with the first week of the 2026 Spring PSSA testing window. As a result, PPS said the schedule has been adjusted as follows: PSSA Mathematics (Grades 3-8): April 20 – April 21, 2026PSSA English Language Arts (Grades 3-8) and Science (Grades 5 & 8): April 28 – May 4, 2026Make-up Testing Window: May 4 – 8, 2026″If families have questions about specific services, accommodations, or support needs, they are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher or school directly so appropriate arrangements can be made,” PPS said in the release. Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

Pittsburgh Public Schools issued a release Tuesday, saying staff and families have been notified of important schedule changes as the NFL Draft inches closer in Western Pennsylvania.

The district said schools will transition to remote asynchronous teaching and learning from April 22–24, 2026.

The district says the transition to remote learning comes ahead of “the significant increase in visitors expected across the region during the 2026 NFL Draft.”

“We know it’s not ideal, but it is a reality of a city hosting a big event where we’re expecting about 500,000-700,000 visitors into our city, and it will completely create sort of exciting time, but also some challenging times when we think about accessibility, transportation, and safety,” Superintendent Wayne Walters said Wednesday.

Each student will have a daily Homeroom section in Schoology where they should log in and respond to the discussion prompt between 10:00 a.m. and noon on the impacted days, the release said. Logging in during the designated time window will ensure students are marked present for the day and can access their assignments and instructions from their teachers.

Parents like Jazlynn Worthy expressed support for the district’s decision to switch to remote learning, noting the potential confusion and challenges of navigating public transportation with the influx of visitors.

“I’m actually happy that the district decided to do remote learning,” Worthy said.

Parent Valerie Webb Allman, on the other hand, voiced concerns about the offline learning approach.

“One day here and there for a snow day is one thing, but three days in a row, that’s a big gap when we don’t have a whole lot of time, and we’re not going to be making up any of that time,” Allman said.

Walters explained that allowing students to complete assignments at their own pace was intended to give them the opportunity to enjoy the draft, which he described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He acknowledged the challenges this decision might bring but emphasized that the early announcement was made to prepare families for the transition.

“We were the first to communicate publicly, but we anticipate many other schools who are in the area will be doing similar things,” Walters said.

While Pittsburgh Public Schools have announced their plans, other city schools like The Ellis School and Winchester Thurston have indicated they plan to continue with their regular schedules during the draft.

Further updates from other schools in Allegheny County are expected.

The NFL Draft, PPS said, will also coincide with the first week of the 2026 Spring PSSA testing window. As a result, PPS said the schedule has been adjusted as follows:

PSSA Mathematics (Grades 3-8): April 20 – April 21, 2026PSSA English Language Arts (Grades 3-8) and Science (Grades 5 & 8): April 28 – May 4, 2026Make-up Testing Window: May 4 – 8, 2026

“If families have questions about specific services, accommodations, or support needs, they are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher or school directly so appropriate arrangements can be made,” PPS said in the release.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel