IMPACT OF EDUCATION & AWARENESS OF HEALTH PROTOCOL

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the vital role school districts play in implementing public health prevention strategies to support safe, in-person learning. The use of health protocols help to ensure all students have equal access to quality health services, prevention education, early intervention, and support to help them achieve academic success. Strategies to increase prevention-related education, such as proper handwashing, vaccinations, and testing, help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and keep students in the classroom where they belong.

To support healthy school environments in Pittsburgh Public Schools, the District has in place multiple protocols including, but not limited to:

A planned, sequential, kindergarten through 12th grade health education curriculum involving skill-based and hands-on learning opportunities that addresses the physical, emotional, mental, behavioral, and social dimensions of health.

All students eat for free! School menus meet strict guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture, based on the latest nutrition research and a panel of experts in health and nutrition

Require compliance with vaccination requirements set by the state of Pennsylvania for school attendance and promote non-required vaccinations, including COVID-19 and Flu.

A COVID-19 Decision Tree, developed in consultation with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHC), establishes protocols to respond to suspected and confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 to maintain the health and safety of the school community.

A masking protocol has been established based on COVID-19 community spread. The promotion of infectious disease mitigation strategies and healthy habits through the use of school signage, partner webinars and staff education and training