After months of behind-the-scenes meetings, the Pittsburgh Promise Board of Directors has announced that Wilkinsburg students attending Pittsburgh Public Schools, and who meet the enrollment, GPA and attendance requirements—and who plan to pursue post-secondary education at an approved Pennsylvania institution—will be eligible for Promise scholarships beginning with the class of 2017.
Promise Board Chair Franco Harris also announced new funding for the expanded initiative.
“Two anonymous donors have generously pledged $100,000 over five years to support the Wilkinsburg inclusion. We are so grateful for their support,” he said. “
“This decision aligns with our mission to see Pittsburgh Public Schools’ graduates to and through their postsecondary education, and will provide hard-working Wilkinsburg students with the same opportunity as their classmates.”
Thanks to an agreement forged between Pittsburgh Public Schools and the financially strapped Wilkinsburg School District last year, about 200 former Wilkinsburg High School students began attending Pittsburgh Westinghouse 6-12 this fall.
Promise Executive Director Saleem Ghubril said the unanimous board decision was modeled on similar circumstance, which makes students from Mt. Oliver eligible for the Promise even though they do not live in the city.
“The City of Mount Oliver contracts with Pittsburgh Public Schools for the education of their students and it is their only available public school option. Our charter made them eligible to receive Promise scholarships and now Wilkinsburg students find themselves in a nearly identical position,” he said.
“Not only do we feel that this is the right thing to do for Wilkinsburg students, but we have taken similar action in the past.”
Pittsburgh Superintendent of Schools and Promise board member Anthony Hamlet said the district’s Wilkinsburg student now have the same opportunities as their fellows.
“The Promise is now real for Wilkinsburg students,” he said.
“Our Wilkinsburg students can now know that they have the same opportunities as their classmates. As we build our five-year strategic plan, we are committed to developing the programs and initiatives that will ensure we reach our vision of all students graduating high school on course to be eligible for a Promise scholarship.”
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