A+ Schools releases childcare support list ahead of potential PPS teacher strike
With a potential teacher strike that would leave 24,000 students out of school, A+ Schools has released a comprehensive list of community partners offering childcare for families.
By: Neil Strebig
Earlier today the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) formally gave warning to Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) that they will officially go on strike starting Friday, March 2 if an agreement is not reached by then.
PFT just served the District with notice that we will strike starting on Friday. Read full statement here: https://t.co/YuvEIx3fvE #PFTonStrike #StrongContractStrongSchools pic.twitter.com/NcG85Z2riE
— PFT400 (@PFT400) February 26, 2018
The strike will leave approximately 24,000 students grades K thru 12 stranded during usual school hours. To help counteract this issue, A+ Schools partnered with a number of community outreach groups to help provide childcare assistance for families in need if the strike does come to fruition.
A number of Northside locations will be offering families support including the Pittsburgh Project for students grades K thru 12 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the YMCA for students grades K thru 6* from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Youth Places Inc., for students ages 12 to 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food services will also be available at the Jefferson Recreational Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Project Destiny will be offering breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch at noon, both the Woods Run and Allegheny Carnegie Libraries will be offering breakfast at 10 a.m.
A number of agencies will be looking for additional volunteers to help provide aid to the children and families in need.
If the strike does happen, residents can view a complete list of childcare and support providers here along with those that are looking for volunteers. In addition to an interactive map of family organizations courtesy of A+ Schools and Flexable.
Representatives from the PFT and PPS will meet again on Tuesday to avoid the first teachers strike in four decades.
*Note the YMCA will only be able to help 24 to 36 children, but with each additional volunteer, they can help approximately 8 to 10 more children.
