Pittsburgh school board takes stance on race, gender identity teaching in classroom

Pittsburgh Public Schools board members this week took a stance on four state House and Senate bills, unanimously passing a resolution that called the measures regarding race and gender identity “inconsistent” with the needs of district students.

Pennsylvania House Bills 1532 and 2813 restrict certain teachings about race and sex, and provides wider access to contraception, while state Senate Bills 1278 and 1277 bar discussion of sexual and gender identity before fifth grade, and notify parents when sexually explicit content is being taught in the classroom.

“It’s more a statement versus anything,” said school board vice president Devon Taliaferro, who chairs the government relations committee. “We’re ensuring equity throughout our entire process, to continue to honor the policies we have in place. We want to create opportunities for our students to learn and grow.”

The board’s resolution expressed concerns that “the bills impede the ability of professional educators to address the diverse needs of all students,” according to Ebony Pugh, a spokesperson for the school district. Pugh also said the bills impact several board policies, including a prohibition against bullying/harassment, and nondiscrimination of transgender and gender expansive students.

The board passed the resolution unanimously Tuesday night, Pugh said.

“All four bills are inconsistent with the needs of our students and threaten the ability of the School District of Pittsburgh to build a culture of belonging that embraces differences, reflects our local community and allows all students and educators to be their authentic selves,” the resolution read, in part. “The district formally opposes and rejects any legislation that suppresses classroom discussion; promotes fear, intolerance, and hate; and devalues staff, students and families of color, and LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families.”

The bills were pulled from the 2021-22 legislative session, but that doesn’t mean they’re dormant, Taliaferro said.

“Knowing we have new leadership coming on, I think it’s good to let them know we are not in favor of these things,” she said.

Pittsburgh Public Schools is the first district in the state of Pennsylvania to pass such a resolution against the four bills.

Taliaferro will coordinate delivery of the resolution to members of the state Senate and House who represent the district, sponsors of all four bills, and members of the Senate and House Education Committees, among others.