What do PPS students want to see for the district’s future? More access at every school

WESA 3/9 11:34P Jillian Forstadt

WESA went to the PPS Student Voice conference to ask students what they think about the district's proposed changes, as well as their hopes for the district’s future.

Pa. advocates call on PIAA to revise policies aligned with Trump’s transgender athlete ban

WESA 3/6 11:31P Jillian Forstadt

Kristina Moon, a senior attorney at the Education Law Center, said the changes violate state and federal civil rights protections for transgender students.

Calls for cyber charter reform intensify after audit found ballooning revenue, surpluses

WESA 3/6 8:00A Katie Meyer | Spotlight PA

The review was led by Republican Auditor General Tim DeFoor, who identified “uncommon” spending on gift cards and real estate.

PPS board approves controversial governance policies, cuts campaign finance restriction

WESA 2/26 11:33P Jillian Forstadt

Board members say the policy changes will increase transparency and make the district more efficient — though some parents are less trusting of their origins and reach.

The Pa. children left behind by free lunch programs, and the proposed $250M solution

WESA 2/26 11:32P Sarah Boden | Spotlight PA

Hunger affects students’ grades and health, but thousands of Pennsylvania kids fall just outside the income threshold for even reduced lunch. Advocates say free lunch for all is the solution.

Penn State president says the university will close some campuses

WESA 2/25 7:12A Sydney Roach

Penn State's administration says they are considering which campuses to close after the 2026-27 academic year. President Neeli Bendapudi shared a message to the Penn State community Tuesday, saying "we cannot continue with business as usual."

Pa. education department considering options — 'none of them pretty' — if federal agency axed

WESA 2/24 11:30P Tom Riese

State Education Secretary Carrie Rowe told Pa. House members Monday that Pennsylvania could not easily offset the $1.6 billion that comes from the federal Education Department should the Trump administration eliminate the agency. Republicans...

As research universities head to court, WESA analysis finds NIH grants lagging during Trump admin

WESA 2/20 11:35P Kiley Koscinski, Patrick Doyle

Experts in education research funding, former NIH staffers and researchers themselves said it’s hard to narrow down one cause for the delay, but they all agreed that confusion created by a flurry of executive orders dismissing certain research...

Pa. auditor general finds cyber charter school revenues 'excessive,' calls for tuition reform

WESA 2/20 11:34P Jillian Forstadt

Wednesday’s audit found five cyber charter schools held in their fund balances a combined $619 million in taxpayer funds as of June 2023.

Pittsburgh council members say PPS income tax diversion lawsuit addresses ‘elephant in the room’

WESA 2/19 11:32P Julia Maruca, Jillian Forstadt

The complaint, filed against the City of Pittsburgh, asserts that Mt. Oliver residents are paying a greater earned income tax than legally required.

Hazelwood teens display their art welding skills at Pittsburgh International Airport

WESA 2/13 11:31P Gabriela Herring

The Industrial Arts Workshop, a nonprofit in Hazelwood, has student artwork on display at the Pittsburgh International Airport right now. The pieces were created by eight of the program’s teens, all of whom are learning the art — and trade skill —...

Carnegie Museum of Natural History receives historic $25M gift

WESA 2/12 11:31P Glynis Board

The iconic dinosaur exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will undergo renovations over the next several years. The museum announced Wednesday a $25 million gift from Daniel and Carole Kamin will not only revamp that space, but also...

Penn State warns of impact Trump administration NIH funding policy changes could have

WESA 2/12 11:30P Anne Danahy

A federal judge has temporarily stopped a new Trump administration policy to put a cap on indirect overhead costs that come with research, a policy that if enacted would have impacted faculty at institutions including Penn State.

McKeesport Community Newsroom teens celebrate their home, citizen journalism

WESA 2/9 11:30P Glynis Board

The McKeesport Community Newsroom is a local and ongoing effort to support citizen journalism and storytelling. Director Martha Rial recently came to visit WESA’s studios. And she brought students she’s mentoring from McKeesport Area High...

Penn State administration announces further cuts to Commonwealth campuses

WESA 2/5 11:30P Sydney Roach | WPSU

Penn State leadership have announced the university’s budget allocations for fiscal year 2026-2027. University Park will see a small overall increase in funding, while the Commonwealth campuses are getting another cut.