Pittsburgh: More kids in SPED; need for emotional support programming in K-2

July 16, 2026, Trib Live: Pittsburgh Public Schools may expand its full-time emotional support, special education program to K-2

Pittsburgh Public Schools officials are considering expanding its Bridges Academy, a full-time emotional support and special education program, to students in kindergarten, first and second grades. It would be headquartered at Weil PreK-5 in the Hill District.

Pittsburgh Bridges Academy, previously known as Oliver Citywide Academy, enrolls students in grades 3-12 receiving special education services and full-time emotional support services. It operates satellite sites at Clayton Academy, King PreK-8, UPrep Milliones 6-12, Greenway and Perry High School.

District officials say the proposed expansion would increase the services available within the district and broadens the range of services available to students within a neighborhood school.

If approved by the board next week, Bridges at Weil would start the upcoming school year. Patti Camper, assistant superintendent for students with exceptionalities, said identified at least two students that would be enrolled in the program.

“The maximum capacity of the K-2 Bridges satellite would be eight students,” Camper said. . . .

School board member Yael Silk sent written questions to Camper and Ann McKetta, senior program officer for students with exceptionalities. In response they said the recommendation to expand Bridges comes from increasing special education enrollment, a need for emotional support programming in K-2 and the district’s ongoing efforts to expand its own services.

Last year, three K-2 students required full-time, out-of-district placement because an in-district option wasn’t available. School districts pay for the often-costly outside placements.

Administrators said the expansion was coordinated with the district’s school building consolidation plan approved earlier this year and special education programming efforts.

That planning considered enrollment projections, building capacity, transportation, staffing and opportunities to reduce unnecessary transitions for students over time. . . .