Philanthropy Stands In Support of Pittsburgh Public Schools

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane recently announced that she does not plan to renew her current contract in June 2016.   In an opinion piece, Gregg Behr of The Grable Foundation noted Dr. Lane’s accomplishments over the past eight years, tackling what seem like overwhelming problems while putting students’ well-being at the forefront.  He noted the progress made, for example, on increasing graduation rates, which rose to 71 percent from 63 percent over the past seven years; the percentage of students who enroll in post-secondary education within two years of leaving high school, which has risen to 68 percent from 58 percent; and the retention rate for Pittsburgh Promise scholars after the first two years of college, which has grown to 72 percent. 

Writing on behalf of Grable Foundation, The Buhl Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments, Behr writes, “We are deeply concerned about the future of our city’s school district and the willingness of the school board to do all that is necessary to ensure that the next superintendent is equipped to further advance the ambitious agenda that was started under Mark Roosevelt’s tenure and nurtured so expertly by Linda Lane.  The first step is to conduct a thorough and painstaking national search to find Ms. Lane’s successor.  Pittsburgh’s funding community stands ready to support the school board in making this a priority to provide the best leadership possible to continue her bold reform momentum.”

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