PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Pittsburgh Public Schools will temporarily move students at 35 school buildings to synchronous remote learning this week as forecasters expect temperatures to climb into the 90s across the region.
The district announced Sunday that the remote-learning plan will be in effect Sept. 1 through Sept. 3, giving affected students three days of online instruction while officials respond to the expected heat.
The decision comes as Pittsburgh prepares for a period of unusually high temperatures. Rather than wait for conditions inside school buildings to become unsafe or uncomfortable, the district said it is implementing its established extreme heat protocol at schools expected to be most affected.
Students attending the identified buildings will participate in classes remotely while the temporary change is in place.
District Activates Extreme Heat Protocol
Pittsburgh Public Schools uses its extreme heat protocol when weather conditions create concerns about indoor temperatures at school buildings.
Under the district’s policy, officials begin monitoring indoor temperatures when the National Weather Service forecasts outdoor temperatures of at least 85 degrees or a heat index of 90 degrees or higher.
The district then evaluates conditions inside individual school buildings to determine whether additional steps are necessary.
If temperatures inside instructional spaces reach 90 degrees or higher, officials can consider temporarily moving students to remote learning, along with other measures designed to address the heat.
The latest decision applies specifically to the 35 buildings identified by the district as being most affected by the upcoming weather conditions.
Remote Learning Scheduled for Sept. 1-3
Students at the affected schools will not attend classes inside their buildings during the three-day period.
Instead, they will take part in synchronous remote learning, meaning students are expected to participate in live online instruction according to the district’s remote-learning plans.
The temporary arrangement is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 1, and continue through Thursday, Sept. 3.
The district’s move is intended to provide continuity of instruction while avoiding prolonged exposure to potentially excessive indoor heat.
The change also gives school officials an opportunity to manage conditions at buildings where temperatures could become particularly challenging during the forecast heat.
These 35 Pittsburgh Schools Are Affected
The 35 school buildings included in the temporary remote-learning plan are:
- Allderdice
- Arsenal 6-8
- Arsenal K-5
- Beechwood
- Carrick
- Chartiers ECC
- Clayton
- Colfax
- Concord
- Crescent ECC
- Dilworth
- Faison
- Fulton
- Grandview
- Greenfield
- Liberty
- Linden
- Manchester
- Mifflin
- Miller
- Montessori
- Morrow (Intermediate Building)
- Morrow (Primary Building)
- Northview Heights ECC
- Perry
- Roosevelt ECC
- Schiller
- Science and Technology
- Spring Garden ECC
- Spring Hill
- Sterrett
- Student Achievement Center
- Weil
- Westinghouse
- Woolslair
Families with students at these locations should prepare for three days of online instruction as the district responds to the projected heat.
Pittsburgh Weather Could Drive Further Changes
The temporary move is directly tied to the forecast and the district’s extreme heat procedures. Conditions will continue to be monitored as temperatures rise across the region.
The district’s protocol is designed to provide a framework for determining when indoor heat may become a concern for students and staff.
For now, the announced remote-learning schedule covers Sept. 1-3 at the 35 identified buildings. Any additional changes would depend on weather conditions and the district’s assessment of individual school facilities.
The decision highlights how quickly extreme summer-like heat can affect everyday routines, including school operations.
For students and families, the immediate priority is preparing for the temporary online schedule while officials continue monitoring the conditions expected across Pittsburgh.
Is your child’s school among the 35 Pittsburgh buildings moving to remote learning? Share your thoughts on the district’s decision in the comments below.