Public-service guides

Student loans bring both opportunity and debt. Here’s what to consider before applying.

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In the past 30 years, tuition for one year at a public university increased by more than 200%. As rising expenses for college and rent outpace wages, more than 44.7 million Americans have student loan debt totaling $1.7 trillion. More than 2.1 million Pennsylvanians have unpaid student loans, totaling $71.5 billion, and the average cost for in-state college tuition in Pennsylvania for the 2019-2020 school year was $23,167. 

EDUCATION

Pittsburgh Public superintendent offers resignation amid ethics controversy

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Two weeks after a state ethics commission found violations, and with mounting tensions, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet submitted a resignation notice to the school board, effective Oct. 1. The resignation comes about one year after Hamlet’s contract was renewed, and five years after he joined the district. “After much thought and consideration and because, in light of current circumstances, I think it is presently the best thing for our students and families, I believe that now is the time for my tenure to come to an end and to embark upon a new chapter of my professional life,” Hamlet said in his letter to the school board. The board is expected to accept Hamlet’s resignation at a special legislative meeting on Sept.

EDUCATION

‘By the Book’ PGH K-12 Bulletins: PPS bus seat gap down, transportation questions for some families remain

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Welcome to "By The Book: PGH K-12 Bulletins," which provides updates on emerging and ever changing news in the Pittsburgh K-12 education landscape. With more than 40 school districts across Allegheny County, the Bulletins will update you on the region's latest education news, including close coverage of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, other Allegheny County school districts, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and other important agencies, which serve thousands of Pittsburgh families. Please check back frequently and email tylisa@publicsource.org with questions, tips or Bulletin ideas. Follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #PGHed for news updates on Pittsburgh education. 08/31/21: PPS bus seat gap down, transportation questions for some families remain
The Pittsburgh Public Schools transportation seat gap is down to about 650 families who were notified by the school district Monday evening.

FIRST PERSON
While teaching young children remotely during the pandemic has had its challenges, Laura Lind writes that she's also found it's brought new possibilities. (Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource)

Being an early childhood music teacher involves sharing. Teaching remotely has allowed me to share even more.

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Instead of my spacious classroom, I was teaching in a tiny corner of a bedroom. I had to re-imagine my curriculum to fit this space and the restrictions of the Zoom frame. The technology was challenging, with choppy sound, frozen images and dropped calls the norm. I had to remind myself to occasionally look at the iPad’s camera to simulate eye contact, even though that meant looking away from the children. 

EDUCATION

Hamlet to pay nearly $8K for ethics violations, controller looks to school board for ‘appropriate’ leadership changes

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A two-year investigation into Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet concluded Thursday in a 147-page report released by the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission that found Hamlet was in violation of state ethics laws. The commission has ordered Hamlet to pay about $7,900 and to give up 14 vacation days. The commission found that Hamlet was in violation of the state’s Ethics Act when he “negligently” received travel reimbursement payments, accepted honoraria payments (a technical violation) and submitted financial interest forms with errors. In response to an additional allegation, which stemmed from a trip to Cuba taken by Hamlet and five administrators and sponsored by The Flying Classroom, Hamlet denied violating the Ethics Act with the trip and denied knowing the trip was not part of the district’s contract. “No finding of intentional misconduct or wrongdoing is made in the commission’s order.