Pittsburgh Local Task Force on the Right to Education LTF 2

09/25/2026

Join us for a FREE virtual conference focused on special education, inclusion, advocacy, and supporting students with diverse learning needs.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, paraprofessional, administrator, therapist, advocate, or simply someone who wants to learn more, you’re welcome to attend!

Date: Monday, October 12
Time: 8:30am - 2:30pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: FREE!

Register today: https://forms.gle/hjAWVhoHbTjQfQYd8

Please share this post with educators, families, and anyone who may benefit. The more people we reach, the more we can learn, connect, and advocate together!

09/25/2026

09/02/2026

📚 Back-to-school season is here! ELC-PA's 2026-27 Back to School Guide is now available, featuring practical know-your-rights resources and self-advocacy tools to help Pennsylvania families and advocates prepare for a successful school year.
This year, we’ve added 12 new resources and updated 27 more to reflect changes in federal and state law — covering LGBTQ+ students’ rights, disability protections, cyber charter school requirements, and more.

🔗 Read the guide: https://elc-pa.org/back-to-school-guide

04/30/2026

https://pittsburghparks.org/world-migratory-bird-day/

World Migratory Bird Day 2026 Every Bird Counts: Your Observations Matter WMBD is taking place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Frick Environmental Center, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PMWorld Migratory Bird Day is an international day of awareness for bird migration and conservation. The theme for World Mig...

04/30/2026

Children with disabilities have a right to their Free Appropriate Public Education even during remote learning.

If your child was not able to access their education, or if services were not delivered, please contact the LTF.

Since the pandemic, remote learning has become a backstop when snow storms clog roads, heat waves threaten health or events promise to snarl traffic. Students with special education needs or without updated devices risk falling behind.

04/28/2026

Edited to add - House votes on this in June so the goal is to fill up this petition by May 15th and hand deliver to our PA representatives. Please share and sign.

Protect Pennsylvania Public Schools: Sign the Petition
The Trump administration announced its FY27 proposed budget and it includes over $265 million in estimated cuts to public schools in Pennsylvania and over $7 billion nationwide. If this budget passes, it will gut programs for English Language Learners, afterschool programs, career & technical programs, migrant children and teacher training, which then affect program and staffing for all students.

A 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling made it clear that PA school funding is unconstitutional and ordered the legislature to fill a $5 billion gap - we're still waiting for that to happen. Federal funding plays a critical role in supporting schools across Pennsylvania, especially in rural and under-resourced communities. These funds help provide:

* Special education services for students with diverse needs
* Academic support and tutoring for struggling learners
* Career and technical education programs that prepare students for real jobs
* Resources for schools serving low-income families

By signing this petition, you are sending a clear message to Pennsylvania leaders in Washington:

Protect federal funding for public education and invest in the future of our students.
Petition Link: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/pastopthecuts?source=GM

04/08/2026

Introducing Bridges Adaptive Field Hockey, a new adaptive, disability-inclusive field hockey team serving the greater Pittsburgh area. Bridges is the first adaptive field hockey team in Western PA and the Great Lakes Region. Lydia Smeltz is the founder and head coach of the team.

The mission is to:

1. Increase access to field hockey for athletes with disabilities;
2. Build relationships between disabled and non-disabled athletes in the greater Pittsburgh region; and
3. Raise community and healthcare awareness of the importance of physical activity for people with disabilities.

04/06/2026

Achieva is proud to announce the Dr. J. Kaye Cupples Scholarship Fund for 2025-2026, which was established in honor of Dr. J. Kaye Cupples - a longtime Pittsburgh Public School educator and administrator. The scholarship honors his extraordinary commitment to the education and inclusion of students with disabilities in the school environment and everyday life. To learn more and apply please visit: https://www.achieva.info/cupples