Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) will operate remotely from April 22 through April 24, as the city prepares to host the NFL Draft. 

In an email shared to school staff, Superintendent Wayne Walters said district schools will participate in remote learning to minimize disruptions and prioritize student learning. 

The NFL draft is expected to draw 500,000 to 700,000 visitors, according to regional officials. Officials also anticipate several road closures, heightened security, parking restrictions and traffic in and around Downtown.

PPS students will participate in asynchronous learning over the course of three days, meaning they will work independently, on their own schedule, based on assignments and instructions given by teachers. School staff will also work remotely and there will be limited access to school buildings and parking lots.

“Our priority is maintaining continuity of learning while recognizing the extraordinary circumstances the city will experience during the NFL Draft,” Walters said in a news release. “Transitioning to asynchronous learning allows us to support students academically while helping families navigate the logistical challenges expected across the region.”

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams, which were supposed to take place during the Draft, have been rescheduled for later dates. 

Walters said students with an Individualized Education Program and 504 Plans will continue to receive support and Specially Designed Instruction during those days. Students at Conroy and Pioneer Education Centers will participate in synchronous learning, where teachers will engage with students online, simultaneously and in real-time. 

PPS is still making up the more than 600,000 hours of learning time students with disabilities missed out on during the pandemic, according to a WESA story. Several education advocates in the state have warned against using too many remote days. 

Lajja Mistry is the K-12 education reporter at Pittsburgh’s Public Source. She can be reached at lajja@publicsource.org.

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PPS will turn to remote learning during NFL Draft days

by Lajja Mistry, Pittsburgh's Public Source
March 17, 2026

<h1>PPS will turn to remote learning during NFL Draft days</h1> <p class="byline">by Lajja Mistry, Pittsburgh's Public Source <br />March 17, 2026</p> <p>Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) will operate remotely from April 22 through April 24, as the city prepares to host the NFL Draft.&nbsp;</p> <p>In an email shared to school staff, Superintendent Wayne Walters said district schools will participate in remote learning to minimize disruptions and prioritize student learning.&nbsp;</p> <p>The NFL draft is expected to draw 500,000 to 700,000 visitors, according to regional officials. Officials also anticipate several road closures, heightened security, parking restrictions and traffic in and around Downtown.</p> <p>PPS students will participate in asynchronous learning over the course of three days, meaning they will work independently, on their own schedule, based on assignments and instructions given by teachers. School staff will also work remotely and there will be limited access to school buildings and parking lots.</p> <p>“Our priority is maintaining continuity of learning while recognizing the extraordinary circumstances the city will experience during the NFL Draft,” Walters said in a news release. “Transitioning to asynchronous learning allows us to support students academically while helping families navigate the logistical challenges expected across the region.”</p> <p>The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams, which were supposed to take place during the Draft, have been rescheduled for later dates.&nbsp;</p> <p>Walters said students with an Individualized Education Program and 504 Plans will continue to receive support and Specially Designed Instruction during those days. Students at Conroy and Pioneer Education Centers will participate in synchronous learning, where teachers will engage with students online, simultaneously and in real-time.&nbsp;</p> <p>PPS is still making up the <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/education/2026-01-06/pittsburgh-public-schools-learning-loss-rock-climbing">more than 600,000 hours</a> of learning time students with disabilities missed out on during the pandemic, according to a WESA story. Several <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/education/2026-02-16/pittsburgh-schools-remote-learning-snow">education advocates</a> in the state have warned against using too many remote days.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Lajja Mistry is the K-12 education reporter at Pittsburgh’s Public Source. She can be reached at </em><a href="mailto:lajja@publicsource.org"><em>lajja@publicsource.org</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-public-schools-pps-remote-learning-nfl-draft/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org&quot;&gt;Pittsburgh&#039;s Public Source&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-ps_circle_favicon_blue.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=1330817&amp;amp;ga4=G-CCLXQK5C14&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-public-schools-pps-remote-learning-nfl-draft/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/publicsource.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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